Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to unobtained in-service and post-service medical records, as well as for an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board has decided to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issue of service connection for TBI. The case is now pending with a request for additional evidence and examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for back condition and head injury (TBI) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran served in the U.S. Navy from February 1989 to June 1998, during which he was involved in a motor vehicle accident in February 1998. He now contends that his current back condition and head injury are related to this event.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus, right knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury (TBI) residuals, and insomnia due to incomplete records from VA medical centers.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C, frostbite of the right hand, frostbite of the left hand, frostbite of the right foot, frostbite of the left foot, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his neck injury, cognitive residuals of TBI, PTSD, and headaches. The Veteran is also being asked to provide a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's TBI and its residuals, including headaches, blurred vision, dizziness, and cervical spine disorder. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are believed to be related to an in-service HUMVEE accident. A new examination is needed to determine if there is a link between his current symptoms and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury with anxiety disorder and headaches, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board found that the criteria for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability were met.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed conditions and their relationship to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for TBI and Seizure Disorder due to insufficient examination findings. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted, effective November 12, 2009.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for residuals of concussion and chronic headaches was granted. However, the claim for TBI residuals was denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his in-service head injury.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion on whether depression is related to service and whether TBI occurred during service. The bruxism claim is also being remanded due to its connection with the depression claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cervical and lumbar spine disorders, bilateral shoulder and hip disabilities, a left knee disability, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury residuals, and erectile dysfunction, have prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined rating of 90%.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and tension headaches due to the need for new VA examinations to assess the current state of his disabilities, as there is evidence suggesting a possible increase in disability since the last examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to in-service injuries and current symptoms.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability and denied service connection for this condition. The cases of acquired psychiatric, cervical spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and traumatic brain injury are remanded due to incomplete or inadequate examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to inadequate examinations in previous decisions. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations for his cervical spine, right knee, right shoulder, left elbow, TBI, seizures, and migraines.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of TBI and PTSD with TBI, as these issues have been fully addressed by a prior rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development and evaluation of his service-connected conditions, including PTSD, cervical strain, peripheral neuropathy, TBI, left knee strain, instability, and ED.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for headaches associated with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is being remanded to allow the AOJ to consider additional evidence, including a March 2019 VA examination and a private clinical record from SPT.