Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2018

The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic sinusitis, and traumatic brain injury (with residuals of loss of sense of taste and smell) are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions. The issues of service connection for TBI, headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder are now pending.

The Board granted a rating of 70 percent for PTSD with TBI from June 11, 2010 to September 14, 2012. The Veteran was also granted a TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate during this period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for back disorder is reopened, and the case is remanded for further development. Other claims are also remanded for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection of residuals of a facial wound, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and chronic headache disorder. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for these conditions as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking them to his military service.

Service connection is granted for a heart condition, diagnosed as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and coronary artery disease. The Veteran's service in Vietnam during the Gulf War era is presumed to have exposed him to herbicide agents, which are associated with ischemic heart diseases like his current condition.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence does not establish that the Veteran has a present disability of bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection is denied for TBI and its residuals. The Veteran's service treatment records do not indicate any head trauma, and there is no indication of such in post-service medical records.,Service connection is remanded for stroke residuals. The Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his Gulf War era service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for lumbar spine disorder, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and scar, inner lower lip due to issues with the Veteran's current address. The VA needs to verify his new address and obtain updated treatment records.

The Veteran's skin condition, claimed as jungle rot, is not service-connected.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of TBI residuals.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes the residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), finding that it is etiologically linked to an in-service head injury.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current residuals of traumatic brain injury are related to his service, including head injuries reported by him.

The Board denied service connection for right hip, left ankle, and sleep disorders as there was no current diagnosis of these conditions prior to death. The Veteran's IBS is also not considered a separate disability from her psychiatric symptoms.,For TBI, the Board found that residuals were only rated at 0 percent due to overlap with other service-connected disabilities (PTSD and migraines).

The Veteran's TBI claim is remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his TBI. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is dependent on the ratings assigned to service-connected disabilities, including TBI.

The Veteran's claims for TBI residuals and headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than a mood disorder and cognitive disorder, not otherwise specified; an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to October 14, 2010, in excess of 40 percent from October 14, 2010, in excess of 70 percent from April 25, 2011, in excess of 40 percent from October 26, 2011, and in excess of 10 percent from November 27, 2013 for TBI; an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent prior to October 26, 2011 and in excess of 50 percent from November 27, 2013, forward, for mood disorder associated with the Veteran’s service-connected TBI; and entitlement to TDIU prior to April 25, 2011 and from October 26, 2011, forward.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and traumatic brain injury, as they need further examination and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD with TBI and entitlement to TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of frostbite of the left foot and right foot, as well as anemia. The case is remanded to attempt verification of a claimed in-service stressor related to sexual assault.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skeletal trauma, sleep apnea, cardiomyopathy, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, incontinence, and traumatic brain injury have all been denied.,There is no evidence of a current disability or any link to service for any of the conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of frostbite to the lower extremities is denied. The appeal regarding PTSD was also denied, with a rating in excess of 70 percent being denied on and after November 23, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, Hepatitis B, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and a back disability due to the need for VA examinations.