Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is granted service connection and an effective date of July 6, 2012.,An unspecified anxiety disorder is granted service connection with an effective date of July 6, 2012.,GERD is granted service connection with an effective date of May 4, 2015.,The Veteran's left wrist disability and right foot and left foot frostbite residuals are remanded for further action regarding earlier effective dates.,Right foot and left foot frostbite residuals with degenerative changes are also remanded for further action regarding earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's right knee DJD has been established through service connection and is considered for compensation.,New evidence received supports reopening of claims for right wrist condition, DMII (diabetes mellitus type II), and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of frostbite of the hands and feet is granted, but the condition was not incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for frostbite residuals of the right foot, status-post amputation of the toes with Muscle Group X involvement, and residual scarring have been denied. The current assigned ratings are considered adequate to reflect the severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for various disability ratings have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeals by the Veteran through his representative.

The Veteran's headaches are granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD and tinnitus. The issues of service connection for a right hand disability, neck condition, sleep apnea, esophagus condition, hernia disability, head scar, and TBI are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for post-concussive syndrome (TBI) and headache disorder, effective May 10, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected Traumatic Brain Injury is found to be related to his active military service, and the Board has also granted service connection for a Mood Disorder that is considered secondary to his TBI.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including skin cancer and hypertension. The remaining issues are also being remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of frostbite in the left foot, and residuals of frostbite in the right foot. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for frostbite of the left foot and right foot as there is no credible medical evidence linking these conditions to an in-service event.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, cholesterol problems, and hypertension have been denied. The Veteran's claim of increased rating for TBI has also been remanded.,Service connection for psychiatric disability, obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA TBI examination to determine if the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his head injury in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to perform daily activities of living without the assistance of another, and he meets the criteria for SMC by reason of the need for regular aid and attendance from another person.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claims for service connection for PTSD and residuals of a TBI. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing a medical opinion regarding any current non-psychiatric symptoms of TBI residuals.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Traumatic Brain Injury and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder were denied. The case was remanded due to the need for further evaluation.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The rating for PTSD remains at 70 percent, and the ratings for TBI, tension headaches, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy are all denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI is directly related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's TBI and defective color perception are granted service connection. The respiratory condition, to include asbestosis, is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's migraines, associated with major depressive disorder and traumatic brain injury, are now rated at 50% effective February 10, 2017.