Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's TBI and associated conditions have been rated at 10 percent, but he contends that his symptoms are more severe. The VA has remanded the case for new neuropsychological testing to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's hypertension and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis are granted service connection. The Veteran's TBI, headaches, left knee disorder, and cervical spine disorder are denied.,Service connection is granted for hypertension and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis. Service connection is denied for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), headaches, a left knee disorder, and a cervical spine disorder.

The Veteran's claims for shin splints, residuals of frostbite in the bilateral feet, and PTSD have all been denied as there is no current disability found to be related to service.,No examination was provided due to lack of evidence showing a present disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for accrued benefits, VA death pension benefits, and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 due to withdrawal of claims by the appellant. The appeal for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a separate 30 percent evaluation for severe bilateral acquired flat feet is granted.,The claims for extraschedular ratings in excess of 30 percent for residuals of frostbite, left foot and right foot are denied.,The Veteran is granted entitlement to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, finding that the Veteran's headaches began during active service and have continued since then. The issues of service connection for TBI and memory loss as secondary to TBI were dismissed due to a withdrawal request by the Veteran.

The application to reopen the claims for service connection for TBI and left ankle disorder is granted. The applications for increased ratings of right shoulder rotator cuff tear and dislocation, lumbar spine strain, spinal stenosis and degeneration of the intervertebral disc are remanded. Effective date prior to August 28, 2013, claims for service connection for right shoulder rotator cuff tear and dislocation and osteoarthritis, and lumbar spine strain, spinal stenosis and degeneration of the intervertebral disc are also remanded.

The Veteran's pes planus and frostbite residuals of the feet are being remanded for further examination to determine their current severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and traumatic brain injury due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, left foot fracture, and sleep apnea due to incomplete or inadequate medical opinions regarding these conditions. The Veteran is to be provided with VA examinations to determine if his current disabilities are related to military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric disabilities. The claims for bilateral wrist disability, breathing disability (including allergic rhinitis and sinusitis), vision loss disability, cervical spine disability, dizziness, sleep disability, degenerative arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, lower extremities, elbow disability, scoliosis, and traumatic brain injury are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma, TBI, and headaches due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including TBI, lower back strain, ventral hernia, and scars. The main reasons for remand include needing VA examiners' opinions on whether a TBI occurred in service and its residuals, as well as examining the severity of his current disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it arose during active service. The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical spine degenerative disc disease is dismissed.,Issues related to TBI residuals and bilateral vision disability, sleep disorder (obstructive sleep apnea), left upper extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and increased ratings for depressive disorder and PTSD are remanded.

The Veteran's traumatic brain injury is found to be related to his service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at 70 percent, effective August 8, 2013.,A 50 percent rating for migraine headaches is granted, effective August 8, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability and TBI, but remanded the issue of hypertension secondary to diabetes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also claimed as anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances, and traumatic brain injury were granted with effective dates of January 20, 2007, August 31, 2009, and August 31, 2009 respectively. The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for TBI, migraine headaches, and PTSD also claimed as anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for TBI and SMC based on aid and attendance due to a seizure disorder. The Veteran's meningioma is related to his military service, but more likely than not began in or is otherwise related to an in-service TBI.