Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2006

The veteran's PTSD is granted as it was incurred in active military service. The VA will obtain a medical examination for the veteran's shell fragment wound and frostbite claims.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the February 20, 1956 and November 19, 1971 decisions denying service connection for peptic ulcers, diarrhea, residuals of malnutrition, frostbite of the feet, and athletes foot.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have left foot disability including left leg amputation residuals due to a frostbite injury or other event during service.

The Board denied service connection for frostbite of the feet, finding no evidence to support a diagnosis of cold injury during service and concluding that current foot problems are not related to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's diagnosed peripheral polyneuropathy, claimed as frostbite residuals, cannot be related to his period of service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no current residuals of frostbite and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cause of death was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor as a result of a service-connected disability.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in loss of use of his hands and feet, qualifying him for assistance in acquiring an automobile or other conveyance with special adaptive equipment.

The veteran's initial increased rating for frostbite residuals in the feet was granted, but no new or material evidence has been presented to reopen his service connection claims for arthritis and a psychiatric disorder.

The veteran's appeal for a higher initial disability rating for residuals of frostbite of the left hand has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in October 2006.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's residuals of frostbite to both his hands and feet, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left ankle disability, residuals of frostbite to the hands and feet, or diabetes mellitus. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current residuals of frostbite to his hands and feet, which are related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found no current disability of residuals of frostbite of the feet and denied service connection.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral chronic deep vein thrombosis, arthritis of the left foot and right foot due to frostbite injury, as well as arthritis of the left ankle and right ankle due to frostbite injury. The evidence did not show these conditions were incurred or aggravated in service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, residuals of frostbite to the hands and feet, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, did not reopen the claim for frostbite of the ears due to lack of new and material evidence, but found that there is no current disability related to service or a service-connected condition for neuropathy and circulatory disorders of the lower extremities.

The Board denied the veteran's requests for increased ratings for residuals of frostbite in both hands, finding that there was no evidence to support a separate rating for Raynaud's syndrome and that the symptoms were adequately addressed under the current diagnostic codes.