Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for TBI residuals, shell fragment wound scar, lung disability, and sleep apnea are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records. The claim for service connection is also remanded as the relationship between his disabilities and service needs further clarification.

The Board dismissed all claims on appeal due to the Veteran's authorized representative requesting withdrawal of all appeals prior to the decision.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and the need for additional examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being reviewed, with a focus on his reported head injuries and psychiatric stressors in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for further examinations.

The Veteran's TBI, posttraumatic headaches, and right leg disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for Osgood-Schlatter's disease of both knees, headaches, visual floaters, bilateral hearing loss, degenerative disc disorder (DDD), photophobia, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and a neck condition due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened, and the Board finds that new evidence supports reopening of this claim. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for soft tissue sarcoma as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, heart disorder, skin disorder, and gastrointestinal disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for TBI, back disorder, and GERD due to new evidence received since the final denial in September 1998. The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for GERD is also remanded.

The Board has remanded multiple issues for further development, including additional VA examinations and clarifying medical opinions. The Veteran's claims are related to his military service but the evidence is insufficient to establish a direct link between his conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI), finding that there was no credible evidence linking his current symptoms to an in-service head injury. The Board concluded that the Veteran did not have a TBI incurred during or as a result of active service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is remanded due to the lack of a VA examination and etiology opinion regarding his TBI, including his in-service injuries. The Board requests additional medical records and an examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI, finding that there is no current diagnosis of TBI or its residuals. The Board also noted that the Veteran was already service-connected for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded due to the receipt of new evidence.,The Veteran is also being scheduled for various VA examinations related to his disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the nature and etiology of various conditions, including low back, neck, right foot, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, and bilateral shoulder conditions. The Veteran's service records indicate complaints of pain in these areas during service, but no current diagnoses have been established. A new examination is required for each condition.

The Veteran's initial claim for a TBI rating was granted at 10 percent prior to June 21, 2016. From that date, the Veteran's TBI is rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board denied an increased rating beyond 10 percent and dismissed the TDIU claim as moot due to his service-connected grand mal seizures. SMC at the housebound rate was also denied prior to August 3, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a TBI, claimed as concussion, has been reopened. The claim is denied due to lack of evidence linking current symptoms to the in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA examination and lack of consideration of the Veteran's lay testimony regarding his in-service boxing injuries.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for headaches due to head trauma was denied. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to August 26, 2003 is also denied. The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for traumatic brain injury (TBI) rated noncompensable prior to March 2, 2010 and 10 percent disabling since that date was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's TBI and headache disorder are granted, but his right foot pes planus claim is remanded for further development.