Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right forearm pain and weakness, dry eye syndrome as a residual of TBI, bilateral hearing loss as a residual of TBI, tinnitus as a residual of TBI, vertigo as a residual of TBI, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (MDD and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder) as a residual of TBI have been granted.,The Veteran's service-connected right 5th metacarpal disability is not associated with the newly diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for TBI and for a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to unclear diagnoses and need for clarification of evidence. The Veteran is seeking service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Meniere's disease, claimed as SSCD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of PTSD and TBI were remanded due to insufficient evidence. The decision on the merits will be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for obesity, left shoulder disability, lumbar disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The cervical neck disorder and TBI residuals are also addressed as new issues to be resolved.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a TBI and cervical spine disability has been reopened, and the Board finds that these conditions are related to his in-service injuries. The Veteran's PTSD is also being remanded for further development.,Service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is also remanded due to outstanding SSA records and potential combat service confirmation.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to missing service department records and a need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, incontinence, dermatitis, and IBS have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals prior to a decision.,Service connection has been granted for tinnitus. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus began during active service or is otherwise related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury due to new and material evidence. The claims for bilateral foot disorder and right knee condition are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss.,The Veteran's appendectomy scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA regulations.,The Veteran's TBI, PTSD, and related conditions are remanded due to missing service treatment records.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and thoracic/lumbar spine arthritis, cervical spine disability, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and psychiatric disorder are all remanded for further development.,The Veteran's right foot disability, left foot disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability are also remanded due to missing service treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, sensorineural hearing loss of the left ear, and TBI are being remanded due to new evidence received since the last final denial. The Veteran is also seeking a compensable rating for his service-connected sensorineural hearing loss of the left ear.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for frostbite residuals of the left foot, finding that there is no nexus between his current disabilities and his in-service occurrence. The new evidence submitted does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's mental health disability, diagnosed as MDD, recurrent, severe with psychotic features, delusional disorder, and major neurocognitive disorder due to TBI, is granted. The Veteran also receives SMC(t) since January 3, 2017.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and medical opinions are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including hypertension, hand, shoulder, ankle, TBI, psoriasis, and sleep disorder. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's PTSD and TBI are remanded for further examination, as his symptoms have worsened since the last VA examination. The left eye disorder is also remanded to determine if it is related to service, specifically an in-service injury involving a steel tent pole.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of traumatic brain injuries, post-concussion syndrome, PTSD, depression, and anxiety are granted. The Veteran is also remanded for further examinations to determine the nature and extent of his eye disability, vestibular neuronitis, migraine headaches, cervical spine disabilities, and thoracolumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression has been dismissed. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been granted. The remaining issues are being remanded due to lack of a current diagnosis or treatment.

The Veteran's service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury is denied. The Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from October 21, 2004 to May 5, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as there was no evidence of an in-service TBI and the Veteran's current TBI is not related to her military service.

The Board has remanded several claims related to the Veteran's neck strain and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, hip strains, TBI residuals, and lumbar spine disability due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.