Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and residuals of a traumatic brain injury, including headaches and epistaxis. The conditions are deemed to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to incomplete development of the Vocational Rehabilitation file.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his TBI with mild memory loss, blurry vision and headaches is being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and Vet Center treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, chronic sinusitis, and low back disorder. Service connection was also denied for an initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and disability rating for vertigo and traumatic brain injury with tension headaches has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board finds that there may be outstanding medical records from Fort Dix that could substantiate his claims.,The Veteran's hypertension claim is secondary to his acquired psychiatric disorder, as evidenced by recent medical literature. Further development is needed to determine if this relationship exists.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD and other mental health conditions related to service. The Board finds a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to in-service stressors.,The Veteran's low back and cervical spine disorders are likely related to his military service, as evidenced by documented symptoms during service. VA examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.,The Veteran has a history of acne on his face while in service. A VA examination is needed to assess whether his current pseudofolliculitis barbae condition may be related to his military service.,

The Veteran's service-connected frostbite with plantar fasciitis of the left foot is rated at 30 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's service-connected frostbite with plantar fasciitis of the right foot is rated at 30 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating is denied.,From January 13, 2020, the Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis is rated at 50 percent, which meets the criteria for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection and aggravation.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), a lower back condition, right and left knee conditions, right foot frostbite, left foot frostbite, right hand frostbite, left hand frostbite, tinea versicolor with tinea pedis, and status-post fracture of the left fourth finger with osteoarthritis. The Veteran is to be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from the Veteran Center and a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and TBI, finding no evidence of these conditions during active duty or within one year post-service. The Veteran's claims were not supported by medical records linking the disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's facial discoloration due to a burn injury during service is granted as service connection. The lumbar spine, left knee, and ankle disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability related to TBI and the Veteran did not sustain a TBI during service. As such, the claim for service connection for residuals of TBI is denied.

The Board denied service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) due to lack of a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's PTSD was found not to render him unemployable, as he had prior work experience and education that allowed him to secure employment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with TBI and left leg disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a finding of total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 19, 2013 for the award of service connection for tinnitus is denied as there was no prior unadjudicated claim. The Veteran is already in receipt of the earliest possible effective date allowed under law.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as he is already receiving the maximum schedular evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand several claims for further development and evaluation due to procedural issues. The Veteran's appeals on substantive grounds are now pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD with TBI) and migraine headaches have been granted initial ratings of 100 percent and 50 percent, respectively.

The Veteran's residuals of TBI have been rated as a 70 percent disability prior to August 30, 2017. Beginning August 30, 2017, the rating for his TBI has been denied. Prior to February 8, 2018, service connection for headaches secondary to his TBI was granted.

Effective April 22, 2016, the Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.