Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for TBI, migraine headaches, cervical spine IVDS and DDD, thoracolumbar spine strain, and TMJ disorder. The Veteran's conditions are deemed to have been incurred in the line of duty during his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frostbite of the left and right hands, as well as his claims for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression), a back disability, and a right knee disability. The issues have been remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, back disability, neck disability, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury due to new evidence submitted. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the appellant's mental health conditions and whether he was insane at the time of his misconduct. The appeal is not about service connection but rather the character of discharge.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims for various conditions. The Veteran's hearing loss and TBI are not currently established as service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and residuals of traumatic brain injury were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's headaches had their onset during active service and are granted service connection. The issue of service connection for a traumatic brain injury is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and TBI are not service-connected as they were not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection for a traumatic brain injury before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's TBI, including whether it is related to service or if his already determined service-connected headaches cause or aggravate his TBI.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for blurred vision, finding that a medical opinion is needed to address whether the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder and its medications are the proximate cause or aggravation of his claimed blurred vision condition.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 1, 1994, for service connection of PTSD was denied. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the service connection claims for various disabilities, including left arm pain, right arm pain, right hip pain, left hip pain, right eye vision loss, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, enlarged prostate, traumatic brain injury (TBI), let leg condition, right leg pain, anxiety condition, and left eye vision loss.

The Board has denied service connection for the residuals of a traumatic brain injury and has remanded the issue of total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for PTSD is granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for PTSD. His bilateral foot pain is also found to be incurred during service. The Veteran's TBI remains in dispute due to outstanding medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and a compensable initial rating for service-connected residuals of traumatic brain injury due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records from his private neurologist.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left foot disability, left knee disability, TBI, bilateral hearing loss, and eye condition due to inadequate examinations and lack of nexus opinions.

The Veteran's current neck disorder, diagnosed as chronic cervical strain with degenerative changes, is related to his military service. Service connection for this condition is granted.,There is no evidence that the Veteran's TBI and headache disorder are causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service.