Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service connection claim for TBI and PTSD remains denied, while the claims for left knee and ankle disabilities are remanded.,PTSD rating in excess of 70 percent is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left elbow disability and TBI residuals. The claim for a compensable rating for his skin disability prior to October 22, 2019, was also denied.,There is no evidence of any current disabilities related to these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and TBI residuals are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cognitive disorder disability, which was previously rated at 100 percent, should now be rated at noncompensable effective December 1, 2019. The evidence shows improvement in the Veteran's condition.

The Board found no causal relationship or nexus between the Veteran's TBI and her active service, thus denying her claim for service connection.

The appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury and cervical spine disability is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected residuals of frostbite with degenerative changes of the lower extremities, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure the Veteran receives proper notice and scheduling of VA examinations, as well as to address his claims for increased evaluations and service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance is remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding the wear and tear caused by his knee braces and lotion on his clothing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury, bilateral hearing loss, right eye hyperphoria, lumbar spine disability, coronary artery disease, and pulmonary disorder are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records. The Veteran also has a compensable initial rating for his bilateral hearing loss from August 14, 2020.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and remanded the issue of entitlement to a higher initial rating in excess of 70 percent for Major Depressive Disorder.

The Veteran's TBI residuals and headaches have been granted initial disability ratings of 40 percent each, effective September 6, 2013. The decision also denied earlier effective dates for service connection.

The Board has determined that the February 2019 VA examination and medical opinion are inadequate, and therefore, a remand is necessary to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran's service treatment records and ongoing VA treatment records need to be reviewed for an adequate medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected TBI residuals are now rated at 10 percent, effective January 14, 2020. The RO also granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical spine disability, TBI residuals, and migraine headaches were denied as the Veteran did not attend scheduled examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI was rated at 50 percent prior to April 19, 2019 and increased to 70 percent thereafter. The Board denied an increase in rating for the condition.,The criteria for a higher rating were not met as there was no evidence of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas or total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The initial rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson’s disease, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for TBI, headaches, and depressive disorder are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date of June 6, 2017 for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance is granted.,The Veteran's claim for SMC at the 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r) or (o) level prior to October 1, 2018 is denied.