Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2015

The Board found that the Veteran's claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) was denied because there was no credible evidence of an in-service head injury resulting in TBI. The Veteran's contentions were not supported by contemporaneous medical records or other evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased disability ratings for headaches and traumatic brain injury. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to consider these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of a noncompensable rating for left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of TBI and a right knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and insufficient reasoning in its previous decisions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting new examinations to address the severity of his thyroid dysfunction/hypothyroidism and TBI residuals.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for residuals of frostbite of the fingers of both hands with poor circulation have been dismissed as he withdrew his claims during a hearing before the RO.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for frostbite of the bilateral feet and left trapezius myalgia. However, both conditions have not been established as incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's T8 and T9 compression fractures are incurred in the line of duty, and service connection is granted. The issue of whether the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his September 1985 motor vehicle accident remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, effective May 2, 2011. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a present diagnosis of residuals from a traumatic brain injury, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. The claim for an increased rating for low back strain remains pending.

The Veteran's TBI has been rated as '0' prior to January 24, 2014 and '1' since then. The current rating is considered appropriate.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right shoulder and hand disabilities, fractured nose, TBI with headaches, neck disorder, left shoulder disability, left elbow disability, and chronic numbness in the left upper extremity, are denied as secondary to his service-connected left knee disorder. The VA examiner found no evidence of these conditions being caused by or related to the July 2009 fall.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for a left ring finger scar was granted. The other claims of service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease is not related to service, and his claimed traumatic brain injury residuals are not proven. Therefore, both claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed disabilities did not manifest during service or within a year thereafter, and thus are not presumed to have been incurred therein. The preponderance of evidence is against finding any nexus between current diagnoses and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) was denied as the evidence does not show any current residuals from an in-service TBI.

The Veteran's TBI claim is denied as there was no objective evidence of a TBI during service.,Service connection for tension headaches is granted as they are related to his service-connected GERD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The Board found no evidence of limitation of motion or pain to shoulder level, warranting a higher rating.