Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected headaches secondary to residuals from traumatic brain injury, and for obtaining all outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including psychiatric disorders and frostbite residuals of the nipples and toes, were denied as there is no competent evidence of current disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for numbness in the toes, claimed as frostbite, was denied. The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence of a current cold injury disability or a disability manifested by numbness of the toes.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral vestibular disorder and arthritis are being remanded to obtain additional treatment records.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for his service-connected conditions have been granted and are set at 10 percent each, effective the day after his discharge from active service in April 2008.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the cause of the Veteran's death and its relationship to service-connected conditions. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of her husband's untimely death, which was attributed to a severe asthma attack exacerbated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records. The Veteran will also be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability other than PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a concussion, now claimed as TBI. However, the VA examiner found no evidence of current residuals from the 1975 concussion and concluded that the Veteran does not have residuals of TBI.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran is seeking to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for residuals of concussion or traumatic brain injury, manifested by symptoms including vision impairment, loss of balance, headaches, dizziness, and memory problems. The Board has determined that additional clinical records from the Naval Hospital in Oakland are needed before deciding whether new and material evidence supports reopening the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating, finding that his service-connected conditions did not warrant such a rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity (frostbite), sinusitis, and jaw disorders are not related to service. The psychiatric disorder is presumed based on in-service trauma.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for his service-connected cervical myositis and traumatic brain injury were denied, but he was granted a maximum rating of 40 percent for his TBI residuals.

The Veteran's low back disability was restored to a 40 percent rating from January 13, 2009.,GERD is service-connected and effective as of the date of receipt of the claim.,Service connection for sleep apnea is granted and effective as of January 8, 2010.,CFS was not service-connected and no earlier effective date can be assigned.,Psoriasis is service-connected and effective as of the date of receipt of the claim.,Residuals of a TBI are service-connected and effective as of the date of receipt of the claim.

The Veteran's TBI residuals, concussion with post-traumatic headaches, and chronic sinusitis are all rated at the lowest possible initial disability ratings due to their severity not meeting higher criteria.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the presence, nature and etiology of any diagnosed residuals of a TBI. The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury will be remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his VA treatment records and scheduling him for a VA audiological and podiatry examination to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for residuals of TBI, service connection for PTSD, and service connection for hepatitis C were denied. The Veteran was not granted any benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA examination and need for further development. The Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and initial compensable rating for tension headaches are pending.

The Board found no evidence of a diagnosed Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or its residuals, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.