Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, gastritis, frostbite of the fingertips and toes, and diabetic neuropathy. The appeals are now pending with the RO.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and depression due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions based on his assertions of in-service trauma.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development due to the need for additional examinations and evidence. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being considered as part of this process.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and TBI, effective from August 29, 2011. The decision is based on the date of receipt of the original claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has decided to remand them due to new evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for a back disorder, vision impairment, and initial compensable evaluation for a scar on the anterior side of the trunk associated with prostate cancer. The appeal regarding whether a rating reduction for prostate cancer was proper is also dismissed. The appeal regarding an increased evaluation for headaches, residuals of TBI, and TDIU remains pending.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for Meniere's disease and traumatic brain injury (TBI) as the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to confusion over the ratings assigned for cold injury residuals of the left and right lower extremities. The TDIU appeal is also deferred as it may affect the combined evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection were properly filed on November 15, 2011. Effective dates of November 15, 2011 have been granted for all disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury with memory loss is denied as he does not have such residuals. The claims for PTSD, right shoulder disability, bilateral knee disability, thoracic spine scoliosis (claimed as trauma to the spine), and left ear hearing loss are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's TBI is associated with his service and the Board has granted service connection for it.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, TBI, depression, alcohol dependence, and a skin disorder were denied. The effective dates for these decisions are August 13, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the claims for sinus condition and TBI are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a heart disorder, neck disorder, low back disorder, left hip disorder, left knee disorder, right broken foot, right foot cellulitis, TBI, and migraine headaches. The Veteran's military records indicate he was stationed at Camp LeJeune in 1982, which may be relevant to his heart disorder claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's character of discharge was upgraded to under honorable conditions (general), thus removing any bar to VA benefits. The underlying merits of the service connection claims will now be adjudicated.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for TBI residuals, cervical spine condition, and left shoulder condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and an earlier effective date are being remanded due to the addition of new VA treatment records that need to be considered.

The Veteran's claims for left lower extremity, lumbar spine, bilateral ear, skin or skin cancer, and psychiatric disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,The Veteran's claim for nasal fracture residuals is also remanded as he has not been provided a VA examination.

The Veteran's essential tremor is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The claims for headaches and TBI are remanded.