Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to inadequate examination records and the need for updated treatment records. The case will be adjudicated again after these are obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, combined, result in such severity as to render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and found that it is at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by an incident during service. The claim for service connection for PTSD was remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, while the back disability (claimed as TBI) and headaches are not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the claimed conditions and insufficient medical nexus opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his current residuals of traumatic brain injury are related to service, including an in-service accident. Relevant medical records must also be obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and residuals of left hand frostbite. The claim for sleep apnea is pending.,There was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is related to head injuries sustained during service, and grants service connection for TBI.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, PTSD, TBI, and a compensable rating for post-operative scarring from CABG were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during his first period of active duty service from December 2008 to January 2010.,The Veteran has a current right knee disorder and the evidence is in equipoise as to whether it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and SMC have been denied. The Board found no evidence of compensable disability for the claimed conditions.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that he claims occurred during his active duty in Vietnam. The Board has determined that an examination and additional development are needed to address the existence and etiology of the TBI.

The Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities have been granted service connection, with the right shoulder rated at 30% and the left shoulder rated at 20%. The effective dates for these awards are October 19, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and TBI with headaches, but the rating assigned is not specified. The effective date of the grant of service connection is also not provided.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including affording her with VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current right shoulder disability, frostbite residuals of the nipples and toes, bowel disability, and left knee, ankle, and right ankle disabilities. The Veteran is also requested to be afforded another opportunity to appear for an examination to determine the etiology of any current right shoulder disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee strain, shoulder strain, shin splints and a skin rash (tinea). The Veteran's hearing loss disability is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service connected. The TBI claim is withdrawn due to overlapping symptoms with the PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of residuals of traumatic brain injury with migraine headaches was denied as there was no clear and unmistakable error in the July 1999 rating decision, which is final.

The Veteran's TBI and headaches are granted service connection. He is also granted initial compensable ratings for his right little finger, left little finger, and left ring finger disabilities. His left shoulder disability is rated at 10 percent prior to February 2013 and 20 percent thereafter. The reduction from 50 percent to 10 percent for PTSD was not proper.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a hearing before RO personnel at the earliest opportunity.