Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2018

The Board has denied service connection for chronic fatigue disorder, respiratory disorder, TBI, and bilateral eye disorder due to lack of evidence supporting the presence or etiology of these conditions. The Veteran's claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted. The effective date of his PTSD service connection is denied as it was not received until July 15, 2010. Other claims have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded several issues related to effective dates and initial evaluations for various conditions, including scar, migraines, traumatic brain injury, and PTSD. The case must be returned to determine the proper substitute claimant.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for acid reflux, but denied the claims for residuals of TBI and eye disorder due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a stroke is stayed due to the unresolved legal issue regarding herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) and depressive disorder has been reopened, but denied. The TBI was resolved within a few days after the 1964 incident, and there are no current residuals of the TBI.,Service connection is granted for depressive disorder as it is proximately due to service-connected asbestosis related to pleural disease.

The Veteran's lower back, bilateral hip, and left knee disabilities are found to be related to his service-connected pes planus.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's bilateral eye disability as it is considered a residual of his TBI.

The Veteran's residuals of TBI are granted a rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of claim. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Board denied reopening of service connection for an upper and low back disorder, frostbite of both feet, and PTSD. The skin disability was granted a 10% rating effective from April 29, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further medical examinations. The issues include left elbow, back, TBI, headaches, neck, and left knee/leg conditions.

The Veteran's TBI residuals were rated at 70% from October 23, 2008 to January 24, 2013. The rating was denied after that period and the separate PTSD rating remains in place.

The Board has denied service connection for TBI due to a lack of evidence of current disability or residuals thereof.,Service connection is remanded for respiratory disability, including sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a TBI and for a compensable rating for costochondritis are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied service connection for left foot, right foot, left hand, and right hand frostbite residuals as the Veteran's account of an in-service cold weather-related injury was not credible.

The Board denied service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as there is no current diagnosis of TBI in the record.

The Veteran's PTSD, with a history of adjustment disorder and traumatic brain injury (TBI), is rated at 50 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for seizures, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and the residuals of acute mountain sickness are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for chronic sinusitis and traumatic brain injury as there was no probative medical evidence linking the current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's sinusitis has not been manifested by incapacitating episodes requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment or non-incapacitating episodes characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge. Therefore, a compensable rating is denied.,Diabetes mellitus, Type II, requires only a restricted diet and oral hypoglycemic agent but does not require insulin or regulation of activities. Thus, the current 20 percent rating for diabetes mellitus remains unchanged.,The Veteran's sleep apnea has not been confirmed by VA records, and further clarification is needed regarding its nature and etiology as well as whether it is related to service-connected conditions.,TBI was added to the already service-connected PTSD without separate ratings. The issue of an initial compensable rating for TBI remains unresolved.

The Veteran's diplopia is granted as a symptom of her service-connected migraine headaches. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.