Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure compliance with the November 2020 Board remand, as the requested VA examination and medical opinion were not obtained. The claims for TBI, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the failure to obtain these examinations.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and benign meningioma brain tumor, finding no current disabilities or causal relationships to the Veteran's in-service experiences.

The appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic right groin problems, right big toe frostbite, left foot gout, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, tension headaches, and lumbar spine arthritis have been dismissed. The appeals for service connection of left knee disorder and right knee disorder are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension did not begin during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury.,The Board also denied service connection for residuals of frostbite on the bilateral feet, concluding that there was no evidence of such condition during service and no current disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, headaches, and tinnitus are being remanded due to failure of the pre-decisional duty to assist.,The Board is unable to make a determination on these issues without additional development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of traumatic brain injury (claimed as head injury). As a result, the issue is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of TBI residuals with cognitive issues is denied. The earliest effective date is set at May 11, 2021.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for frostbite residuals of the feet as new and relevant evidence was not received, despite the submission of VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) due to the Veteran's active military service, finding that it is at least as likely as not that her TBI was incurred in or caused by her service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and its residuals is denied as there was no evidence of a TBI during his service, and the residuals are not related to any in-service event.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of TBI due to a final denial in December 2013, finding no CUE and that the evidence did not show a diagnosis of TBI at that time.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are as likely as not of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, effective June 24, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a scar on the left lower extremity as a residual of a tibial/shin laceration is granted. The claims for lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and skin disabilities are denied.

The Board denied service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI), vertigo, and headaches as secondary to TBI. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been of sufficient severity to preclude him from obtaining and/or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD and TBI have been remanded for further evaluation due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for TBI with memory loss and remanded the claim of sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD with residuals of traumatic brain injury is being remanded due to the failure to appear for a scheduled VA examination. The Board will attempt to schedule another VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as the claims for service connection for TBI and headaches.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, traumatic brain injury residuals, and facial scarring. The decision is based on the Veteran's failure to report for necessary examinations without explanation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for TBI, and as a result, the claim is dismissed.