Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury and a rating in excess of 30 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder due to unclear etiology and need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of traumatic brain injury is granted as the evidence shows that his TBI symptoms began during combat service and are related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's claim for a 100% rating for PTSD with TBI was granted effective November 27, 2011. The Board denied an earlier effective date as the claim was reviewed more than one year after the revised criteria took effect.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection and his TBI rating from March 31, 2011 to August 24, 2016 is granted at a 40% disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his left little finger disability is denied as the maximum schedular rating has already been assigned.,The Board finds that additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran’s right thumb injury, TBI, tinea versicolor, eye injury, right leg injury, prostatitis, back injury, residuals of deviated septum surgery, sleep apnea, and bronchitis are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI is attributable to active service and grants service connection for a traumatic brain injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), including headaches and brain lesions. The examiner is required to consider the Veteran's reported symptoms, exposure to blasts during service, and any potential aggravation by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic gastritis, left foot frostbite neuropathy, right foot frostbite neuropathy, and a left index finger disability are all granted. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen these claims and granted service connection based on the combined old and new probative evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current TBI disability is related to his in-service head injury, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The appeal for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the cases regarding service connection for low back disability, upper back disability, and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for a psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI residuals, including posttraumatic headaches, is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the initial examination conducted by a primary care physician. A new VA examination with a psychiatrist, physiatrist, neurosurgeon, or neurologist must be scheduled.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting medical evidence regarding her diagnoses and a need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's TBI with PTSD, cognitive disorder and stress incontinence should be remanded for further evaluation due to lack of recent clinical records and an increase in severity since his last examination.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable rating for service-connected post-concussive headaches and PTSD with major depression, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran suffered a traumatic brain injury during service and now experiences residuals such as blurred vision and cognitive difficulties. The evidence is at least in equipoise regarding these conditions, warranting service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed disabilities, specifically residuals of a fracture of the orbital rim/skull and TBI. The Veteran needs to provide additional information about his symptoms and VA treatment records should be obtained.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a traumatic brain injury due to the AOJ not issuing an appropriate Statement of the Case. The Veteran must file a Substantive Appeal if he wishes to proceed with this claim.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, as they are related to the Veteran's service connection claims. The issues of service connection for traumatic brain injury residuals and migraine headaches, as well as increased evaluations for low back strain and TDIU, will be reconsidered after additional evidence is obtained.

The Board denied service connection for traumatic brain injury, brain aneurysm, and psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions as being related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for further examination. The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, including headaches, is pending.