Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the grant of service connection for residuals of an injury to the chest, characterized as intercostal muscle spasms. The issues concerning the neck and abdomen remain pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's traumatic brain injury with headaches and light sensitivity is etiologically related to his active service, including a mortar attack in Vietnam where he was knocked unconscious and hit his head on sandbags. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's claim for TBI was received on November 17, 2009. The effective date of service connection is assigned as of that date.,An increased evaluation to 30 percent for allergic rhinitis is granted beginning August 30, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling issue for his requested Board video-conference hearing. His claims for service connection remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and an examination to assess the severity of his service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms such as occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to flattened affect, panic attacks, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. The Veteran's hypertension, sleep apnea, and TBI are etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and thus service connection is denied. The remaining claims are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Traumatic Brain Injury is directly related to an injury sustained during service in January 1999, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA medical records from the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center and St. Cloud VA Health Care System.

The Veteran's heart disorder is presumed to be secondary to his service-connected sarcoidosis. The Board grants reopening of the claim for a heart disorder and remands the issue for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal as to service connection for a TBI was withdrawn. The claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep disorder were also withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant requesting a withdrawal of this appeal.

The Veteran's IBS was found to have its onset during service and granted service connection prior to December 5, 2011.,Service connection for TBI (headaches) is granted. The Veteran reported experiencing these symptoms since an in-service incident.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's reported cold injury during service, which he claims as frostbite to his left great toe, is credible and has granted service connection for residuals of a cold injury (frostbite) - left great toe.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for frostbite residuals of each foot have been denied as the evidence does not support a schedular rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite of the hands and chronic lumbosacral sprain, to include as secondary to service-connected status post-arthroscopy, left medial and lateral meniscus tear. The evidence received since the last final rating decision relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination for PTSD. The issues of service connection for PTSD and frostbite are also being addressed.