Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board found no evidence of a head injury during service and denied the Veteran's claims for TBI and loss of vision. The current visual disability was not related to service.

The Veteran's TBI residuals were granted with a 10% rating prior to October 23, 2008 and a 30% rating thereafter. The cognitive impairment was also granted with a 10% rating as of October 23, 2008.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current TBI and related conditions are linked to his active duty service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for traumatic brain injury, claimed as residuals of head injury and right ear injury. The Board finds that a remand is required to obtain the Veteran's medical records from Noble Army Hospital in Fort McClellan, Alabama, and provide an addendum opinion regarding whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that the TBI/head injury/ear injury residuals were either caused or aggravated by the 1964 MVA.

The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's TBI, effective from September 10, 2015. Before this date, the Veteran was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD with cognitive disorder is rated at the highest available level (50%) and his TBI with memory loss is rated at 10%. The other conditions are rated appropriately based on their severity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of TBI and PTSD was granted. The issue of reopening the previously denied PTSD claim was also granted.

The Board has been notified of the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal and, therefore, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's traumatic brain injury resulted in level '3' impairment for the cognitive facet of memory, attention, concentration, and executive functions prior to June 4, 2010. A rating of 70 percent is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea and TBI. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, neck disorder, tinnitus, left shoulder disorder, hypertension, low back disorder, and erectile dysfunction are all found to be related to his military service. Service connection is also granted for the extension of a temporary total evaluation due to right shoulder surgery.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete medical opinions and further development is required.

The Veteran's TBI and psychiatric disorder were granted effective November 19, 2005. The Board found that the low back, neck, and right ankle conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his acquired psychiatric disorders, including TBI, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. The claims are currently pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck injury and TBI with headaches and migraines are not service-connected.,There is no evidence of a neck injury or TBI during active service, nor any link to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for residuals of frostbite of the right hand and also denied his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's initial rating for residuals of traumatic brain injury has been granted at a 10 percent level. The Veteran also received separate ratings for migraines and tinnitus, with the tinnitus rated as 10 percent disabling from September 25, 2009, through August 5, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable ratings for residuals of mild TBI, chronic posttraumatic headaches, allergic rhinitis, trigger finger, and right eye disability have been denied. The criteria for these conditions were not met.

The Veteran's residuals of a traumatic brain injury are rated as noncompensable, and the Board found that the evidence does not support an initial compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected chronic borrelia infection/Lyme disease and considering his TDIU claim. The Veteran is also requested to provide medical records from all providers who have treated him.