Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a TBI is granted. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite of the hands and feet, depression, a low back disability, and epistaxis. However, the preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, TBI residuals, and headaches have been granted. The examiner found that the Veteran's PTSD medications caused or aggravated his erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxiety disorder, NOS has been granted a rating of 70 percent. The other claims have not met the criteria for an initial compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits has been granted, and he is now receiving a 100 percent evaluation for his heart condition (CAD). His renal insufficiency with hypertension is rated at 60 percent. He also receives SMC based on housebound status due to his CAD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to a lack of evidence showing that a claim form was received within one year of his intent to file, which would have made March 31, 2015, the date of claim. The earliest effective date assigned is April 4, 2016.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, concussion (also claimed as TBI), bleeding ears, and macular degeneration due to a lack of competent evidence showing current diagnoses or signs/symptoms thereof.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a TBI was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that is a residual of a TBI in service. The claims for back and neck disabilities, and hypertension secondary to PTSD were not adjudicated due to the need for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder and denied the remaining issues on appeal. The Veteran is now entitled to increased ratings for his PTSD with alcohol abuse, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's disability evaluation from 70 percent to 10 percent for TBI was improper and ordered restoration of the prior rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI is related to his in-service parachute accident, and service connection for this condition is granted. Other issues on appeal are remanded.

The Veteran's application to reopen his service connection claim for residuals of frostbite and foot fungus was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI has been reopened and granted, with a rating of 70% effective from November 10, 2010. The Veteran is also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an opinion regarding the relationship between his diabetes and TBI.

The Veteran's TBI, right upper extremity neuropathy, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities are all found to be related to his service.,His right knee disorder is also found to be related to his service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for ischemic heart disease due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his in-country service in Vietnam. He is also granted service connection for multiple sclerosis as a result of such exposure.,Service connection for TBI has been denied, with the Board finding no evidence of current residuals from an in-service head injury prior to death.,The Veteran's multiple sclerosis was not found to be related to his active service and is therefore not service-connected. However, he did have ischemic heart disease due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam service.,Service connection for dermatitis of the feet has been denied as there is no evidence of systemic therapy or involvement of at least 5% of exposed areas.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the etiology of his diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's vision disability, including a neurologic eye condition with transient visual disturbances and vision loss, is found to be related to his service-connected TBI. Service connection for TBI was granted effective April 4, 2011, and an initial rating of 10% has been assigned from that date until July 8, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of frostbite, bilateral hands has been reopened and is now considered. The Board finds that new evidence supports the reopening of this claim.,Service connection for PTSD has been granted based on credible reports of in-service stressors.