Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding her TBI, bilateral hip disability, fibromyalgia, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral wrist disability other than CTS.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and dizziness and loss of balance, finding that these conditions were not incurred or related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current TBI is related to his service. The Veteran contends that he experienced a car accident in service and has had symptoms of TBI since then.

The Veteran's claim for a left ankle disorder is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The effective date for the grant of a 10% rating for right ankle arthritis is being remanded due to lack of factual ascertainability within one year prior to December 28, 2015.,The Veteran's claim for a psychiatric disorder is remanded as there are conflicting medical opinions and missing records need to be obtained.,The Veteran's claim for a head injury/ TBI is being remanded due to the lack of an adequate VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for a seizure-like disorder is being remanded due to the lack of an adequate VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10% for right ankle arthritis is being remanded as there are insufficient range of motion tests.

The Veteran's TBI residuals are being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions, including hepatitis C, arthritis, frostbite, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeal is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including left hand, right hand, left arm, right arm, bilateral foot, left hip, neck, and TBI disabilities. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent and credible evidence of current diagnoses or a causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including CAD, ulcerated colitis, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, CFS, diverticulitis, residuals of TBI, seizures and/or epilepsy, and PTSD are granted. The decision also includes remand items for further review.

The Veteran's right knee and low back disabilities are being remanded as the VA examiners did not adequately address whether they were caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded to determine if he has a current hearing loss disability, and its likely etiology.,The Veteran's tinnitus is being remanded to determine its likely etiology, including whether it was incurred in service.,The Veteran's psychiatric disabilities are being remanded as the VA examiners did not adequately address his request for treatment during service or any head injury therein.,The Veteran's TBI and migraine headaches are being remanded to determine their likely etiology.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD was denied, and his claims for service connection for PTSD and residuals of frostbite were not granted. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule an examination.

The Board has granted service connection for TBI residuals with headaches and cognitive difficulties, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since December 18, 2014. The initial compensable disability ratings for his scar and TBI are granted. His right shoulder and left shoulder degenerative changes are each rated as non-compensable. His right ankle sprain and left ankle sprain are both remanded.

The Board denied service connection for frostbite of the hands as there is no current diagnosis and no evidence linking it to active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.,The Board also found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of residuals of frostbite on his left foot. As such, service connection for this issue is also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for TBI and migraines due to a lack of medical examination, as well as the need to consider the credibility of the Veteran's testimony regarding in-service head injuries.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the complexity of the issues.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the claims related to TBI, migraine headaches, right knee disability, right leg shin splints, numbness and tremors of upper and lower extremities, heat sensitivity, and vision problems. The Veteran's service records indicate exposure to heat stroke during his military service.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including TDIU and evaluations for various conditions. The Board has determined that these issues are inextricably intertwined with the issue of TDIU and has therefore remanded all matters.

The appeal for service connection of tension and migraine headaches is dismissed, while the appeal seeking a compensable initial rating for TBI from March 14, 2016 to May 8, 2018 remains denied.

The Veteran's cause of death and burial benefits claims are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding substitution as the appellant is seeking to continue his pending service connection claims.