Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2020

Service connection is granted for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The Veteran's asthma and PTSD are remanded for further evaluation, as are his skin condition and service connection for pulmonary nodules. An earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for a compensable rating for TBI residuals and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. Additional evidence is needed, including updated medical records and a protocol TBI examination.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluation of residuals from a traumatic brain injury is granted. A separate 50% evaluation for headaches associated with the TBI is also granted. The low back disability claim, which was previously denied, has been reopened and remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral foot disorder is not service connected, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his in-service injuries and his current condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's TBI residuals pre-existed service and were aggravated by active duty. The VA must obtain updated medical opinions on these issues.

The Veteran's TBI symptoms have not been adequately evaluated since his last examination in February 2017. The Board finds a new examination is necessary to determine the current severity of his TBI symptoms.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine if the Veteran sustained a TBI in service and whether his current anxiety and upper extremity tremors are related to this injury. The claims for service connection will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a pilonidal cyst, sulfa allergy, iodine allergy, frostbite of the bilateral lower and upper extremities, heart disability, pneumonia, and an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), all potentially related to herbicide agent exposure. The Board also requested additional medical records from prison and hospital visits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant due to insufficient evidence regarding his ability to walk with or without an ambulatory device, as well as the severity of his service-connected right knee arthritis and traumatic brain injury. A VA examination is needed to address these issues.

The Veteran's residuals of TBI, including memory loss and headaches, are granted. The right knee DJD is rated at 30 percent based on subluxation and instability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and TBI residuals, as well as a potential secondary service connection claim for alcohol abuse. The VA will also obtain any outstanding medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to deficiencies in the development of evidence and for further examinations. The issues include increased ratings for migraine headaches, major depressive disorder with TBI, and PTSD; entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU); and service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his service connection claims and rating issues, including the need to determine if he has an acquired psychiatric disorder and whether a higher rating can be assigned for his TBI with headaches.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for TBI and migraine headaches as a residual of TBI is granted. The effective date is set at June 3, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected TBI with PTSD, along with his hearing loss and fatigue/weakness in lower extremities, prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to June 2, 2014. As a result, the Board has granted TDIU for this period.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 27, 2016 for the grant of nonservice-connected pension benefits due to the Veteran's service in a period of war and his total disability from non-service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TBI disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to reassess the severity of his symptoms, including sleep impairment and memory loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity that they preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial rating of 70 percent, effective September 20, 2017. Service connection for a heart condition, peptic ulcer disease, and residuals of traumatic brain injury have also been remanded.

The Board has remanded two issues of service connection: TBI due to combat trauma and neurasthenia from fever due to malaria. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed again as the current evidence does not clearly establish these conditions, but there is potential for a link to service.