Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of frostbite to his neck or lower extremities, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions. The Board also found no evidence linking any bilateral knee or hip disabilities to his military service, including as secondary to his claimed residuals of frostbite.

The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current TBI, to include headaches, to service. The VA treatment records do not show a continuity of symptomatology from service to the present. Therefore, service connection for TBI is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his current symptoms and whether they are related to service.

The Board found no evidence of frostbite residuals in service and concluded that the Veteran's current left foot conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's back or TBI, and thus denied service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of frostbite of the feet. The Board also found that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran has current symptoms of residuals of frostbite of the feet, which are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI and bilateral hearing loss are service-connected, with no issues related to exposure basis or the presumption of service connection under the PACT Act. The effective date is not specified in the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's frostbite of the feet, bilateral foot neuropathy, bilateral leg neuropathy, and partial amputations of the left second and third toes are all service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded to allow for further development of the record, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling him with a VA examination to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD was denied. The earliest formal or informal claim of record is dated March 12, 2003.,The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing or a special home adaption grant was denied as he does not meet the eligibility criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of frostbite of the feet. The issue regarding whether diabetes mellitus is due to or aggravated by PTSD remains unresolved.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed disabilities, finding no credible evidence linking any of the conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal. The case is being remanded for further development and readjudication, including obtaining private treatment records and SSA records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for urinary bladder cancer, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and residuals of frostbite in both hands and feet have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal for these issues.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to his active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, finding that the Veteran first manifested these symptoms within one year of separation from active duty. Service connection is also granted for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Veteran seeks service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), including memory loss, nausea, irritability, and slow thinking. The case is currently under review due to the need for additional examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent from April 12, 2009 to May 13, 2009. The earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was not granted as there was no clear and unmistakable error in the August 1971 rating decision.

The Board found the character of discharge for the period from September 13, 1999 to May 15, 2003 is not a bar to VA benefits. However, the character of discharge for the period from May 16, 2003 to July 30, 2007 is considered dishonorable and thus bars VA benefits.