Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a service-connected disability for any of the Veteran's claimed conditions. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to appear for a scheduled VA examination. The case will be reviewed and additional evidence may be obtained before readjudication.

Your appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference or travel board hearing. If you do not want the hearing, please inform the RO in writing.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent, and his claims for service connection for TBI and suspected glaucoma were denied. The claim for higher evaluation of the lumbar spine disability was not granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a TBI with memory problems due to new and material evidence. However, further development is needed before the merits of the issue can be adjudicated.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's TBI residuals were rated at 10 percent prior to October 23, 2008 and increased to 30 percent thereafter. The current rating is in line with the criteria for a 30 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 8045.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding service connection for back disability and traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to address the service connection of his headaches and TBI. The case will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, left knee disability, and lumbar spine disability were granted. The Veteran was also awarded a higher rating for her residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information from the April 2013 VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed TBI and loss of consciousness. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to clarify the nature and etiology of his current symptoms, to include recurrent headaches, balance problems, tinnitus, and memory loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including pseudofolliculitis barbae, acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral knee and hearing loss, burn scar disability, obstructive sleep apnea, TBI, high blood pressure, back disability, and tinnitus. The effective date for the grant of service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae was not earlier than September 27, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are pending. The rating for TBI has been granted, but the status of the issues related to migraine headaches and right knee disability is unclear.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or its residuals, and thus service connection for TBI is denied.

The Veteran's TBI is not productive of any current symptoms or manifestations, and his left ankle disability does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,The Veteran's left ankle disability was not productive of loss of use of the foot, ankylosis, or the functional equivalent thereof. The Veteran is not so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities and he does not have a service-connected disability rated 100 percent.

The Veteran's TBI is presumed to be related to service due to combat exposure, and the Board grants service connection for a traumatic brain injury.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cataracts are not related to his service eye injury, and concluded there were no residuals of a TBI in service. The appeals for these claims are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, including cognitive learning disorder and concussion residuals. However, the Veteran's claim for ADD was denied as there is no evidence to support a current diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury is denied as there is no evidence showing current residuals are related to his military service.