Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury, headaches, and a psychiatric disorder due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's TBI was granted service connection, but his claims for PTSD, alcohol abuse disorder (secondary to PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, chronic adjustment disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and sleep disturbances were denied.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for frostbite residuals of the left and right feet remains before the Board. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for frostbite residuals of the hands and a skin disorder due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of January 27, 2011, and an effective date for the TDIU award was granted.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The back disorder, TBI residuals, and seizure disorder claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI is granted effective September 12, 2012.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and evaluation of various conditions due to the absence of an adequate substantive appeal.

The Board has determined that the claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, right hip disability, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hemorrhoids, traumatic brain injury (TBI), migraine headaches, and vertigo are remanded due to incomplete records. The Veteran is asked to provide additional private treatment records related to his disabilities.

The Veteran's TBI appeal is being remanded due to the addition of new evidence that has not been reviewed by the AOJ.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to new evidence being associated with the case file since the February 2017 SOC. The VA will conduct updated examinations of the Veteran’s low back, cervical spine, right hip, and left hip disabilities.

The Veteran's TBI rating was reduced from 70% to 0%, effective May 1, 2015. The reduction was granted as the symptoms of dizziness/vertigo were also present in his PTSD and considered pyramiding.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) as there is clear and unmistakable evidence that a concussion injury existed prior to his enlistment into service, which was not aggravated during service.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection for a low back condition and TBI due to lack of new and material evidence that could establish a current disability related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI is service-connected based on in-service head injuries, and this decision grants service connection for TBI.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of medical opinions and treatment records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for traumatic brain injury, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety and depression).

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for frostbite, both feet has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his claim by his representative.

The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition other than PTSD (including major depressive disorder) is dismissed. The claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) is remanded. The claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a skin disorder, gynecological disorder (manifested by dysmenorrhea), TBI (memory loss), and migraine headaches have been reopened. However, the Board has found no current evidence of these conditions during her military service or since separation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, tinnitus, hearing loss, TBI, and headaches, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether his service-connected conditions precluded him from securing such employment.

The Board denied service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease and residuals of a cold weather injury, frostbite to the bilateral feet. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered related to his in-service injuries.