Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a traumatic brain injury due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of December 7, 1998 for the establishment of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen her service connection for TBI and an acquired psychiatric disability, but has remanded both issues due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate development and need for a new VA medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed traumatic brain injury.

The Board has found the Veteran's claims of residuals from a traumatic brain injury and psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD) not supported by evidence, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that a TBI from service is not established, but the Veteran's current symptoms may be related to other underlying conditions. The case is being remanded for further examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as his acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD) and tinnitus are granted. The claim for service connection for left knee disorder, frostbite of bilateral lower extremities, including a right toe is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination to determine if service connection can be granted for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, upper respiratory disability, TBI, and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to conflicting evidence regarding the nature and extent of the Veteran's TBI residuals, as well as the interrelated nature of his tension headaches with his TBI.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's initial ratings for Traumatic Brain Injury, Loss of Sense of Smell, and Headaches have been denied by the Board. The Veteran is not entitled to higher ratings based on his TBI residuals, loss of sense of smell, or headaches.

The Board denied service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to the lack of evidence showing a current disability and no nexus between the Veteran's in-service fall and his current symptoms.,Service connection was also denied for onychomycosis of the feet as there is no medical evidence linking the condition to active service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have onychomycosis until 1983, which predates his military service.,The claim for a cardiac disorder was denied because there was insufficient evidence to support a current disability and the Veteran's symptoms were deemed musculoskeletal in nature.

The Board denied service connection for frostbite as there is no evidence of a current disability related to in-service frostbite.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for traumatic brain injury with cognitive disorder and headaches, as well as diplopia secondary to fourth cranial nerve palsy, was denied. The Board found that the residuals of TBI did not warrant a higher than 50 percent rating, while the compensable rating for diplopia was also denied.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are granted as service connected.,Service connection for frostbite of the bilateral hands is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim of service connection for Guillain-Barre Syndrome and remanded it for additional development. The claims for an eye disability, to include cataracts, secondary to Guillain-Barre Syndrome under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, and a traumatic brain injury are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's headaches and their relation to service. The case will be reconsidered with a new addendum opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected TBI is found to have caused his hypertension. The Board also finds that the Veteran's PTSD, TBI, and other disabilities prevent him from obtaining or maintaining employment, granting a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and requests for authorization forms.

The Veteran's TBI with PTSD was reduced from a 100% rating to a 50% rating, but the Board has restored the original 100% rating due to procedural inadequacies and lack of proper examination.