Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2019

The Board has found that the Veteran did not experience a TBI in service and denied his claim for service connection. The headaches are currently diagnosed, but the Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to determine if they are related to service or PTSD.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for residuals of left wrist fracture, kidney disorder, bilateral eye disorder, and lung disorder have been granted. The petitions to reopen the remaining issues are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially and materially to his death from accidental heroin intoxication, which the Board finds was secondary to self-medication of PTSD symptoms.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the lack of complete service treatment records, including a separation examination. Additionally, SMC based on aid and attendance/housebound is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a head injury with residual chronic headaches is granted. The claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, thoracolumbar spine disorder, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, traumatic brain injury with residual headaches, and right knee disability are all remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied due to lack of evidence showing an increase in disability within one year prior to the filing of his intent to file a claim.,An earlier effective date was granted for the assignment of a separate rating for sinusitis, but not earlier than May 31, 2016.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was incurred during service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of this case as he is no longer alive.

The Veteran's claims for headaches, petrous apex lesions, and TBI have been remanded due to the need for a VA examination. The Veteran claimed his headaches were related to service, but no current diagnosis of TBI was found.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and TBI due to inadequate examinations and conflicting evidence. The Veteran is seeking a new examination and opinion regarding his TBI claim, as well as clarification on whether his current sleep apnea is related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including enlarged liver, TBI, splenomegaly, vitiligo, subcortical white matter brain lesion, allergic rhinitis, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and tinnitus. The Veteran was granted a 40% disability rating for goblet cell carcinoma with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and a separate compensable rating of 10% for loss of sphincter control associated with IBS.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder with TBI are granted at a maximum schedular rating of 70 percent, effective May 25, 2014. The appeal is REMANDED for further action on other issues.

The Veteran's claims for a bilateral ear condition, residuals of TBI, and right shoulder disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical opinions and potentially issuing Supplemental Statements of the Case.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his TBI residuals is being remanded due to the need to obtain updated test results from a previous VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of traumatic brain injury, so the claim is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to support his claims.,The Veteran was previously denied service connection for various conditions and now seeks reopening of these claims.

The Veteran's TBI with headaches is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a new VA examination is needed to determine if his disability has worsened.

The Board has granted service connection for Meniere's syndrome, vertigo, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) as these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service head trauma while serving in Vietnam.

The Veteran's dysequilibrium, status post carotid artery dissection (claimed as dizziness secondary to TBI), is not related to his service-connected TBI or any in-service incurrence.,There is no evidence of hypertension that is secondary to the service-connected TBI.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for TBI due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The case is remanded for further action on the issues of service connection for PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, and any other acquired psychiatric disorder.