Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2018

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the current severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected residuals of frostbite of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to incomplete review of medical records and failure to perform imaging studies.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the lack of evidence for the period between December 14, 2010 and February 28, 2012. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with other issues.

The Veteran's service connection for headaches is granted, and a compensable rating for his TBI is denied. The right ankle disability claim is remanded, and the TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals, TBI as there is no current diagnosis of TBI or its residuals.

The Board denied service connection for TBI due to lack of a current diagnosis, while granting service connection for aggravated bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection was granted for the aggravation of existing right and left ear hearing loss during active service.

The Veteran's cognitive disorder is rated at 70 percent, but the claim for service connection for PTSD is denied due to lack of a current diagnosis and existing service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, TBI, and psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical opinions and lack of VA examinations addressing all relevant theories of entitlement.

The Veteran's TBI residuals are currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck condition, PTSD, head injury (TBI), and depressive disorder is granted.,Service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease is granted. Service connection for PTSD is granted. Service connection for head injury (TBI) is remanded due to lack of an adequate VA examination. Service connection for depressive disorder as secondary to service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease is also remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for temporal lobe dysfunction (claimed as TBI) due to new evidence received since the March 1991 decision. However, the issue is remanded for a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury. The issues of service connection for neck disability, right ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not require hospital treatment in excess of 21 days, thus the temporary total disability rating based on hospitalization is denied.

The Veteran's hearing loss in the left ear is denied as there is no current disability of hearing loss according to VA standards.,The Veteran's rescinding (receding) gum with skin graft claim is denied as there is no compensable dental condition that can be linked to service.

The Veteran's service-connected TBI, migraine headaches and dizziness have been granted effective from August 26, 2014.

The Veteran's initial claim for a rating of 100 percent for TBI was granted effective April 23, 2013. The appeal is also granted to assign an earlier effective date of April 23, 2013.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to clarify whether the Veteran has a diagnosis of TBI and, if so, its etiology. The claim for service connection for TBI will be remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood due to lack of current diagnoses and insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury, including Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, muscle spasms, and Lewy Body dementia due to a lightning strike is dismissed because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tension headaches and a TDIU rating, finding that there was no evidence linking his current headaches to service. The Board also found that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to have been caused by his exposure to herbicide agents during service. Service connection for a traumatic brain injury related to the July 1977 closed head injury in service is denied as there is no evidence of a causal relationship between the current symptoms and the service-connected residuals of a right zygomatic complex fracture with a Le Fort fracture, type I.