Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including a mood disorder. The issue of entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD was restored to a 70% rating, and the TBI issue is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they are not shown to be of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as there is no evidence of a current TBI disability and the Veteran did not have a TBI during service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of frostbite to the bilateral feet, left hand, and right hand due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI residuals, including related conditions such as migraines and PTSD/depression, is granted with an effective date of July 28, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and frostbite residuals of the left knee due to incomplete STRs, lack of consideration of lay statements, and need for further medical opinions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's service connection claims, including obtaining SSA records and a VA medical opinion regarding her bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder with major depressive disorder and PTSD is granted a 70 percent rating, effective August 11, 2016. Service connection for traumatic brain injury and seizure disorder remains denied.

The Veteran's lung disability claim has been remanded due to new evidence. The TBI claim was granted as incurred in the line of duty.,Left ear hearing loss and migraine headaches claims are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and unspecified nerve damage disability were denied due to lack of new and material evidence within the one-year appeal period.,Service connection was granted for TBI residuals.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of any TBI residuals, bilateral foot disability, and lumbar spine sprain. The Veteran's claims for service connection on these issues are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied. The case was remanded for further development, and the Veteran received a noncompensable evaluation for scintillating scotoma, bilateral hearing loss, and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI is rated at 50% since September 2, 2014. The RO has determined that Code 9411 provides the better assessment of overall impaired functioning.,PTSD and TBI symptoms overlap in some periods but can be clearly separated in others.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including low back disability, residuals of frostbite of bilateral feet, residuals of venereal disease, and residuals of head trauma. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for frostbite of the feet and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was granted. The decision also reopened his previously denied claim for frostbite of the feet.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI was denied. The effective date for a 70 percent rating for PTSD is set at January 6, 2012. An earlier effective date of June 14, 2016 for the 60 percent rating for urethral stricture is not granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when evaluated in association with his educational attainment and occupational experience, preclude gainful employment. The Board grants entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service connected disabilities (TDIU) effective November 4, 2012.

The Veteran's chronic headaches, hypertension, TBI and cranial nerve damage are all found to have their onset in service. The Veteran's chronic headaches and TBI were granted service connection. However, the Veteran's hypertension and cranial nerve damage remain unresolved due to remand for further examination and opinion.