Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims of service connection for fatty liver with elevated liver enzymes, traumatic brain injury (TBI), left ankle disability, right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and fractured right ankle, and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied. The effective date for the 50% rating for PTSD has also been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left wrist fracture, left-hand fracture, cervical spine disability, thoracic spine disability, and TBI, all claimed as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disorder. The decision is pending further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities and frostbite of the right and left hands, finding that there was no competent medical evidence to support the Veteran's lay assertions regarding the likely etiology of these conditions. The Board also found that there is no current diagnosis of frostbite.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a dental disorder, headaches, and TBI are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The claim for an increased rating for hearing loss is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations and opinions to determine if the Veteran's conditions are related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for eczema is granted. Claims for right shoulder, elbow, hip disorders, and TBI are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service. CTS claim is also denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of TBI, and neurological disorder and memory loss due to TBI. The Veteran did not meet the threshold requirement of having a current disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory condition caused by exposure to burn pits during active service in the Southwest Asia theater. The Veteran's tension headaches and TBI conditions are still on appeal, and new VA examinations are needed.

The Veteran's TBI, right upper and lower extremity disabilities, and PTSD individually rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted TDIU based on the TBI rating effective October 23, 2008.

The Veteran's service connection claims for frostbite of the bilateral feet and hands are granted. The right foot condition claim is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frostbite on both his left and right feet, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for service-connected TBI was granted, with a 10 percent rating effective September 22, 2017. An earlier effective date prior to March 9, 2010, is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cognitive impairment, as a residual of his traumatic brain injury incurred during service, is service-connected.

The Veteran's April 2017 Notice of Disagreement was not timely filed, and the appeal for service connection for residuals of TBI is denied.

The Veteran's application to reopen his service connection for vascular disease was denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. The claim for ED is also denied.,Service connection for GAD with depressed features has been granted, but an effective date prior to March 15, 2012, is denied.,Service connection for tonic-clonic seizures with grand mal seizures and TBI are all denied as well, with no effective dates being granted.,The Veteran's initial rating for TBI was remanded due to the need for further evaluation.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and access issues. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are believed to have contributed to his death, but a new VA opinion is needed to determine if they caused or contributed substantially to it.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of left-hand index finger fracture, as well as no current disability related to TBI. Service connection was not granted for TBI due to lack of a recent diagnosis prior to filing. Increased rating claims were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI), and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical examinations. The issues include back, neck, foot, urticaria, TBI, and headaches.