Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling appropriate examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for TBI residuals and low back disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing new VA examinations.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disability and TBI are not related to his service. The evidence does not support a finding of an in-service stressor or injury, and there is no credible supporting evidence for the Veteran's allegations.

The Board has granted service connection for migraines, TBI residuals including migraine headaches, and PTSD. The Veteran's claims are based on new evidence that was not previously considered.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frostbite of the left hand, right hand, and right ankle disability are denied as there is no current diagnosis. The claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability is secondary to his service-connected ulnar neuritis.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability was granted, with a rating of 20 percent effective from June 26, 2012. His claims for bilateral hearing loss and TBI residuals were also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to reassess his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work, given his level of education, prior work experience, and training. The case will be readjudicated in light of all evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and severity of his TBI residuals, headaches, and cognitive impairment. The claim seeking a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) will be deferred until all other claims are resolved.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of any residuals of a TBI. The Veteran's lay testimony, private treatment records, and service treatment records indicate exposure to IEDs and rocket blasts during service, but further examination is needed to determine if these events resulted in a TBI.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his TBI.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and will be readjudicated after obtaining these records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 20 percent rating for frostbite residuals of the right little finger has been granted. The effective date is set at December 16, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with service connection established for PTSD and TBI. Bilateral hearing loss and conjunctivitis were also found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for PTSD, TBI, a back disability, and a right hip disability cannot be substantiated due to lack of credible evidence supporting an in-service stressor or injury. As such, service connection is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite of the left foot and residuals of laparotomy surgery, as new and material evidence has been submitted.,Service connection is granted for frostbite of the left foot and residuals of laparotomy surgery.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for left wrist, low back, and right knee disorders. The Veteran's other service connection claims are denied.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no jurisdiction remains for the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of TBI, including post-concussive headaches, were incurred in active service and grants this claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA examination reports.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a TBI. After reviewing all submitted evidence, including private medical opinions linking the current symptoms to the 1968 motor vehicle accident during active military service, the Board finds that service connection is warranted.