Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2019

The Board has found that the Veteran's frostbite of the feet is etiologically related to service, and his neuropathy of the feet is a residual of that frostbite. The claim for residuals of frostbite of the feet, identified as neuropathy, is granted.

The Board is remanding the case to provide VCAA compliant notice regarding new and material evidence for the previously denied service connection claim for memory loss, now claimed as a TBI.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acid reflux is denied.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his TBI claim and request for a higher rating are both denied.,The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted with a compensable rating of 10 percent.,The Veteran's PTSD claim is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's current TBI is related to his military service.

Service connection for a disability of the spine, bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral blindness, and left eye disability is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the December 2011 VA administrative decision, finding that the character of discharge was not CUE.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI) warrants a compensable disability rating, but the case is remanded to schedule an in-person VA examination due to lack of proper procedures for incarcerated veterans.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of frostbite in both feet as there is no evidence of current disability and the Veteran's symptoms are consistent with athlete’s foot, which he already has a separate service connection for.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of cold injury or frostbite on hands and feet as there is no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran had such injuries during his military service.

The Veteran's short-term memory loss is found to be related to a TBI suffered during active service, and the Board grants service connection for residuals of a TBI.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete documentation of the consent form for the Veteran's sinus surgery performed on July 9, 2007 at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. The Veteran is seeking compensation under Section 1151 for complications from this procedure.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased rating for TBI and acquired psychiatric disability, as well as the issue of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran needs new examinations and records from SSA.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted. The claim for diabetes mellitus, type II is denied. The claim for residuals of frostbite in the feet is remanded.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD and TBI.,Service connection for an autoimmune disease (claimed as CFS) and a stomach disability are remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 21, 2008 for service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) residuals with cognitive decline is granted. The Board found that the Veteran’s July 2008 statement constituted an informal claim based on his notation that he was treated for a head injury during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her lumbar spine disability, tension headaches, and PTSD with MDD and TBI are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for low back disability, frostbite of the left and right great toes were denied. The TDIU claim was also denied as his disabilities did not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

Service connection has been granted for residuals of frostbite of the left and right lower extremities. The Veteran's cervical dystonia and GERD claims are being returned for further development.,The Veteran's cervical dystonia claim is being returned for a new medical opinion due to inadequate reasoning in the previous VA examination. His GERD claim is also being returned for an examination as there was no full evaluation of his condition.,Service connection for residuals of frostbite of the upper extremities and peripheral neuropathy are being returned for further development, including examinations to assess these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for multiple conditions, including left shoulder disability, right knee and left knee disabilities, right ear hearing loss, bronchitis, irregular heart beat and dyspnea, frostbite of the left hand, diarrhea, and residuals of tick bites. The appeals are all denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is denied as there is no current diagnosis of TBI and the VA examinations found no evidence of a TBI.