Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot adjudicate the merits of these claims as they pertain to service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle disability, residuals of TBI, cervical spine disability, and low back disability are not fully addressed due to incomplete medical opinions. The cases have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, claimed as anxiety and depression, and for insomnia has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right foot disability has been remanded due to the submission of new evidence since the March 2010 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for traumatic brain injury, memory loss, and headaches are being remanded due to the need for further examination or evidence.,Service connection is granted for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right knee strain, and left knee degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's left and right foot frostbite residuals are granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral leg disorder is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and TBI residuals are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete medical records and inadequate VA opinions.

The Board denied a higher initial disability rating for TBI residuals as there were no current symptoms or residuals of the service-connected TBI, and the Veteran's reported symptoms were not related to the TBI.

The Board denied a higher rating for degenerative disc disease L5-S1 and service connection for frostbite of the feet. The Veteran's back disability was rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5243. Service connection for frostbite of the feet was also denied due to lack of current residuals.

The Veteran's service-connected TBI residuals have been rated at 10 percent since February 15, 2013.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to outstanding records and need for additional medical examinations. The issues include hemorrhoids, stomach disability, heartburn, neck disability, TBI, headache (migraine), left testicle disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in significant impairment, warranting a 70% rating from January 30, 2014 to June 24, 2015. Migraine headaches were rated at 30% from May 27, 2016 to January 14, 2021 and 50% thereafter due to very frequent attacks causing severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI is currently rated at 50 percent, effective August 21, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's head injury and its relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple issues is remanded due to incomplete development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examination and records review related to the Veteran's claimed Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, TBI, and migraines, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total rating for compensation purposes based on unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has denied service connection for a traumatic brain injury and remanded the issue of secondary service connection for migraines to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates related to PTSD with TBI, migraine headaches, and left hip atrophy with scars have been dismissed.,An appeal seeking an earlier effective date for service connection of left hip atrophy with scars has also been dismissed as moot due to the pending increased rating claims.,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings related to IVDS prior to January 31, 2012 and migraine headaches have also been dismissed as moot.