Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD with panic attacks and TBI is currently rated at a certain level, but he believes it should be higher. The VA has not received all of his recent treatment records to make an accurate determination.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions were denied as the evidence did not show a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's tension headaches are now rated at 30 percent, effective February 6, 2014. The rating is subject to controlling regulations governing the payment of monetary awards.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of bangs and bruises, hearing loss, residuals of frostbite, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (posttraumatic stress disorder) have been dismissed due to withdrawal by his representative in November 2008.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to missing VA medical records. The case must be returned to the claims file and reviewed, possibly with a new examination.

The Veteran's request to reopen his service connection claim for frostbite of the hands and feet was denied because the notice of disagreement (NOD) was not timely filed.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status is denied as his service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions including left and right knee disabilities, sleep apnea, TBI, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran's current hearing loss in the right ear is not considered a compensable disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, dementia pugilistica, and acquired psychiatric disorders are granted. Service connection is denied for neck disability, right ear hearing loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for TBI and IBS was granted, with a rating of 30 percent assigned for IBS. The claims for low back disability, right ankle disability, and skin disability of the right foot are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for back disability, hernia disability, traumatic brain injury (claimed as head injury and memory loss), and hypertension. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disorder, GERD, headaches (including migraines), hypertension, TBI residuals, seizures, lumbar spine disorder, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, right and left shoulder disorders, right and left wrist disorders, elbow bursitis, bilateral hand disorder, knee disorders, eye disorder, sinus disorder with nose bleeds, and face trauma have all been denied.,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has not met the criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected TBI does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable disability rating, and thus denied her claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to joint pain, sleep apnea, sinus/nasal condition, headaches/migraines, and acid reflux are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evidence review.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding no medical nexus between his current conditions and service. The Veteran's claim for residuals of a traumatic brain injury is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the examination reports.

The Veteran's headaches were rated as non-compensable prior to December 1, 2011 and a 50 percent rating was granted from that date. The Veteran is denied a higher disability rating for his headaches.,TDIU was initially denied before October 1, 2012 but granted effective October 1, 2012.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for TBI and for TDIU due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran will need to provide VA treatment records from August 21, 2018 to the present and any Social Security Administration disability determination and related medical records. A new VA examination is also needed to assess the current severity of his TBI.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of traumatic brain injury and memory loss was dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shin splints, residuals of TBI, and tinnitus. The conditions are related to service due to overuse in the case of shin splints, a service injury in the case of TBI, and noise exposure in service in the case of tinnitus.

The Veteran's vertigo, scars of the left knee and wrist/arm, CFS, bilateral shin disabilities, frostbite residuals, and Meniere’s disease are not related to his military service.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with these conditions since separation from service but there is no evidence linking them to his time in active duty.