Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional examinations or opinions, and requests that the Veteran provide authorization for release of private treatment records from before 2011.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's TBI and its connection to service. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if he has residuals of TBI related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's TBI residuals, including word-finding difficulties, nausea, and sound sensitivity, are granted a separate 10% rating. The mental health impairment residuals of TBI remain at the current 50% rating.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, urinary incontinence, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy, depression, and residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI).,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD and TBI residuals was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD or any rating higher than 10 percent for TBI residuals.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination and his current incarceration. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether any current frostbite residuals are related to the Veteran’s military service.

The Veteran's appeal for back pay for a 100% permanent rating is dismissed because the notice of disagreement did not specify which decision or issue he was appealing.

The Board denied service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as there is no current evidence of a TBI disability, and the Veteran's headaches are already service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance (A&A) is remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including VA treatment records and private treatment records from Rothman Orthopedics, Jefferson Hospital, and Bryn Mawr Orthopedic Clinic.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is rated at 10 percent prior to January 3, 2017.,The Veteran's anxiety disorder, NOS, alcohol dependence, traumatic brain injury, is rated at 10 percent prior to April 15, 2013.

The Veteran's TBI with headaches was denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to February 17, 2017.,The Veteran's TBI with headaches was also denied evaluations in excess of 10 percent from February 17, 2017 to December 30, 2019 and a compensable evaluation thereafter.

The Board denied service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury and granted an initial disability rating of 100 percent for PTSD with panic disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder. The effective date was set at July 17, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for frostbite, bilateral feet was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his active service.,For the initial rating of headaches prior to November 10, 2015, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The VA examiner found that he had characteristic prostrating attacks less than once per month.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further development is needed.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation above 10 percent for residuals of traumatic brain injury is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues regarding CUE in the August 1971 rating decision denial of service connection for angioneurotic edema and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for angioneurotic edema.

The Board has remanded the claims for a headache disability and Amblyopia due to potential issues with the medical opinions provided. The TBI claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis of TBI or its residuals.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The Achilles heel spur of the left foot, cardiovascular disability, traumatic brain injury (TBI), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sleep apnea, and residuals of hernia surgery are all denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for TBI and Depressive Disorder are granted, but the claim for PTSD is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without providing good cause.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as there is no current diagnosis of TBI residuals and the preponderance of evidence shows that the Veteran does not have such.