Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for traumatic brain injury or residuals thereof, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral hip disability, low back disability, neck disability, and sleep disorder.,The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions at the time of the decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and cervical spine disorder due to incomplete treatment records.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for various conditions due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the VA has not provided a combined effects opinion on his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, syncope, tinnitus and residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) was dismissed as he withdrew his claim for service connection of headaches. The claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and syncope were reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected TBI and migraines are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records review.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right facial lipoma/cyst excision with residual scarring, depression of the skull, and TBI are granted. However, these cases are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete service records and requests for additional verification of the Veteran's periods of active duty in the Marine Corps Reserves.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for new examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been dismissed as he requested the withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's TBI is rated at 40 percent effective January 8, 2018. The rating is granted for a higher rating of 40 percent but not higher.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability and traumatic brain injury (TBI), but has remanded the issue of service connection for a right shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the claim for separate evaluations of TBI, PTSD, and dementia due to a lack of differentiation in symptoms attributable to each condition. A new VA examination is required.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his PTSD and differentiate it from TBI residuals, as well as provide proper notice regarding how to substantiate his increased rating claim.

The Board has granted service connection for Erectile Dysfunction as secondary to a service-connected disability (likely PTSD or hypertension) and has remanded the issue of service connection for Residuals of Traumatic Brain Injury.

The Veteran's claims for a separate compensable rating for residuals from a traumatic brain injury and a higher rating for his right diaphragm disability have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for either condition.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury did not result in compensable residual symptoms. The Board denied an initial compensable rating for TBI, but granted secondary service connection for a headache disorder and memory disorder to the service-connected TBI.

The Veteran's TBI symptoms are currently rated at 10 percent, and his migraine headaches have been rated as 50 percent since June 15, 2018. The Veteran has also been granted a TDIU effective November 26, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service-connected TBI with memory loss, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.