Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board has found that there are no exceptional patterns of hearing impairment. The TBI claim was remanded due to insufficient evidence for a diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include low back, left hip, and left knee disorders as well as a TBI and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service connection for facial scar residuals, TBI, and painful left cheek scar was granted with effective dates of August 19, 2010, and November 7, 2016 respectively. The Veteran is not entitled to an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for facial scar residuals.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for the residuals of a head injury, to include TBI residuals, is granted. The case is remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI residuals are service-connected, based on evidence showing a head injury in service and current symptoms consistent with TBI.

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD is remanded, as are his ratings for TBI and TDIU. The VA examinations related to these issues need to be redone.

The claim for service connection for TBI, claimed as residuals of a head injury, is reopened and remanded due to the need for an examination.

Service connection for PTSD, left hand laceration scar, and right leg cancer has been granted. Service connection for TBI, right eye laceration scar, and left shoulder disability (impingement syndrome) is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and right shoulder disability (tendinopathy changes of the supraspinatus) is denied.

An effective date of January 23, 2015 for the grant of service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy is granted.,Effective dates earlier than June 27, 2016 are denied for the grants of service connection for tension headaches, TBI, tinnitus, mixed anxiety depressive disorder, left upper extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease.,The Veteran's December 31, 2015 claim referenced neurological damage which should have been recognized as claims including TBI and the nerve damage in his bilateral shoulders. However, no head injury nor left shoulder neurological damage was mentioned.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of TBI, initial compensable evaluation for anxiety disorder prior to March 2, 2011, and an evaluation of 30 percent for anxiety disorder beginning March 2, 2011 are denied. The claim for a higher initial evaluation for lumbosacral strain is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for traumatic brain injury due to conflicting medical evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and traumatic brain injury, but has remanded his claim for degenerative disc disease lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, TBI (secondary to PTSD), and residuals of a stroke under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to inextricably intertwined issues with the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal regarding TBI, depressive disorder, lumbar spine disability, right knee strain and tendonitis, and left knee strain and tendonitis has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal prior to a Board decision.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for irritable bowel syndrome, tinea pedis, TBI, dementia, allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, respiratory ailment/breathing problems, periodontal condition, and hearing loss. The AOJ is instructed to request development from JSRRC to corroborate the Veteran's reports of deployment with the 602nd Tactical Air Control Center Squadron in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a vision disability is being remanded due to the addition of new evidence since the most recent Statements of the Case.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for traumatic brain injury, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), bilateral median neuropathy, bilateral ulnar neuropathy, cervical spine disability, memory loss, carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and heart disability are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence since the most recent Statements of the Case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various conditions, including right and left foot disabilities, lumbar strain, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, TBI, left knee condition, right knee condition, and migraine headaches. The issues include determining whether pre-existing bilateral pes planus worsened during service and whether current plantar wart conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression is dismissed. The case is remanded for further examination regarding the Veteran's TBI secondary to a head injury, as well as for an examination related to his right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) and TBI have been reopened, but further medical evaluation is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection issues.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection is denied. The effective date of the PTSD award remains July 12, 2015.