Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, gout, residuals of meningitis, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, schizophrenia, memory loss and diminishing capacity), staph infection (to include various skin disorders), hypertension, loss of eyesight in one eye, residuals of frostbite, ingrown toenails, and loss of teeth, are not service-connected as they were not caused by or related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and cervical strain are related to his service, but the initial compensable rating for traumatic brain injury is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The hearing loss case is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the lack of VA treatment records from Central Arkansas VAMC. The Board requests that these records be obtained and reviewed.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on multiple knee and foot conditions, as well as hearing loss and TBI residuals, are dismissed. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Board denied service connection for right and left ankle conditions, right and left knee conditions, back condition, residuals of TBI, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for TBI was reopened and granted, but the case is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for TBI and remanded the issues of service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's use of wrist braces for service-connected disabilities causes abnormal wear and tear on his long-sleeve shirts, warranting a clothing allowance for the year 2017.

The claims for service connection have been granted, but the Board has determined that more evidence is needed to determine if sleep apnea and eye disability are related to TBI. The effective date of the award of service connection for tinnitus will be remanded as well.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date of March 25, 2015, for a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD with other specified depressive disorder.,The Board also denied the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date prior to August 31, 2015, for service connection for TBI with posttraumatic headaches.

Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, Type II, heart disorder, Parkinson's disease and prostate cancer. Service connection remains denied for the other conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues regarding service connection for a traumatic brain injury. The appellant is currently in the process of being determined as an eligible claimant for substitution.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for frostbite of the left and right hands, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding whether the appellant was insane at the time of misconduct leading to his discharge.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including TBI residuals, PTSD, hearing loss, ocular migraine headaches, cervical spine disability, skin cancer, and others, were denied as the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's TBI symptoms, including memory loss and difficulty with executive functioning, have worsened since his last examination. The Board finds that VA’s duty to assist is triggered due to the unclear nature of his current impairment level.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for TBI and migraine and tension headaches, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings due to outstanding SSA disability records that may provide relevant information.