Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2017

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of all issues before the Board during a March 2017 hearing.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI) with tension headaches is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a more contemporaneous examination and consideration of private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for clarification on whether depressive disorder is related to service, and further medical opinion regarding the relationship between sleep apnea and PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been withdrawn by his representative. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these issues.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another or on account of being housebound is currently pending. The case has been REMANDED due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for plantar warts, malaria, presbyopia, vertigo, and TBI. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis or recent recurrence of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn by his representative.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a TBI, headaches, and PTSD have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service experiences.

The Board found no evidence of current residuals from the Veteran's in-service head injury and denied service connection for TBI.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI). As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's service connection claim for TBI and related psychiatric disabilities is denied as there are no current disabilities found to be residuals of a TBI incurred in service. The Veteran also does not have any service-connected disabilities, thus denying his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite of the ears and fingers, cancer of the left chest, and bilateral hearing loss were all denied by the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, spastic quadriparesis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The claim for higher rating on his low back disability was granted but with limitations. No specially adapted housing or temporary total evaluation due to treatment were awarded.

The Veteran's TBI is rated at 10 percent, and his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for further action consistent with the terms of a Joint Motion for Remand (JMR). The appeal is REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) due to the need for additional VA examination and consideration of all evidence.

The Board has determined that the Appellant's character of discharge is not a bar to VA benefits, but further medical development is needed to determine if he was insane at the time of his misconduct.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI residuals with short-term memory loss, migraine headaches, hand tremors, and vision impairment as secondary to TBI. The VA examiner found no residual conditions attributable to in-service head trauma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right leg condition, TBI, and tinea cruria as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and TBI residuals.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases in its November 2016 decision, which denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for TBI residuals. The Veteran's representative and VA's General Counsel agreed that the Board erred by failing to address certain evidence related to blurred vision, headaches, and a psychiatric disorder.