Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that additional examinations and medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, Alzheimer's dementia, sleep apnea, TBI, heart murmur, GERD, gastritis, and type one chiari. The case is REMANDED for these actions.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, left shoulder disorder, and traumatic brain injury were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions. The VA examinations did not find any evidence of a traumatic brain injury.

The Board found that the reduction in rating for residuals of TBI from 80% to 10% was proper. The Veteran's left wrist fracture and right knee disorder were each rated appropriately, with a separate rating granted for arthritis of the right knee.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury to include depression, finding that new and material evidence was submitted. The claim is now considered on its merits.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, including headaches and memory loss, is denied as there is no competent evidence linking his current disabilities to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and has determined that the Veteran's respiratory disorder, including asthma, skin cancer, and frostbite residuals are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection in full, including reopening of previously denied claims and granting new evaluations.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) he claims was incurred during active military service in Kuwait. The Board notes inconsistencies in the Veteran's reports of loss of consciousness following IED explosions and finds that further examination is needed to determine if he has current residuals related to his TBI.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, which required insulin and a restricted diet, warrants a 20 percent evaluation from March 30, 1990 to October 6, 1996.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, coronary disease with dilated cardiomyopathy, residuals of frostbite, headaches, shoulder disability, and depression/anxiety. The claim for an eye disability was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Veteran's idiopathic thrombocytopenia does not warrant a compensable rating. Service connection for traumatic brain injury was denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking his headaches to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, residuals of cold injury to both hands and feet, residuals of cold injury to face and ears, scapula fracture, cervical spine fracture, hypertension, and sleep disorder have been denied. The reasons are provided in the reasoning section.