Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's TBI residuals were rated at 10% prior to September 17, 2020 and at 70% thereafter. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including the issuance of a supplemental statement of the case regarding his service-connected PTSD with TBI and left foot pes planus.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's TBI is related to his active service. The VA examiner's opinions were deemed inadequate and incomplete.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including obtaining VA and private outpatient treatment records, as well as conducting new VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The claims include those related to depressive disorder, bilateral foot fungus, right knee disorder, PTSD, memory loss, sleep disorder (secondary to TBI), and right hernia.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in the VA examination report and the need for additional development of records.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70 percent rating, effective July 24, 2010. The claim for a higher rating and service connection for TBI are denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his TBI is remanded due to the need for further development, including scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and heel spurs. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and his military service, particularly the motor vehicle accident in May 1988. The VA is asked to obtain updated treatment records and provide additional medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all issues on appeal, and the Board has dismissed them.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection were denied. The Veteran's surgical scar related to pilonidal cyst excision did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, while his lumbar spine disability was not shown to have had its onset in service or be otherwise related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for frostbite of the hands and feet, but has remanded issues related to an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and GERD. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence or undergo examinations regarding these claims.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition to include PTSD with depression and cognitive residuals of TBI has been granted a rating of 70 percent, but no higher, throughout the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for burn scars of the left leg and groin is granted. The case is remanded for further examination to determine if additional disabling effects warrant a separate compensable rating, and for new examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD with major depressive disorder and mild neurocognitive disorder, as well as TBI residuals.

The Veteran's residuals of a traumatic brain injury, including word finding difficulty and neurocognitive disorder, are found to be related to his active service.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA opinion and the need for a new examination.

The Veteran's TBI rating was reduced from 70% to 10%, effective October 1, 2014. The Board found the reduction improper and restored the original 70% rating.

The Veteran's appeals for Traumatic Brain Injury and TDIU were dismissed due to the Veteran requesting to withdraw his appeal.,The remaining issues of service connection for various disabilities, including a right knee disability, low back disability, gastric disorder, neck disability, and right upper extremity radiculopathy are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's TBI claim is being remanded due to insufficient detail in the VA examinations regarding symptoms unique to the TBI. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is intertwined with the TBI claim.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities, including right ankle, left leg, right leg, frostbite residuals, inguinal injury, sterility, right shoulder, low back, bilateral hip, and left ankle disabilities. The remand is due to incomplete service treatment records from the Veteran's first period of active service and the need for addendum opinions regarding the relationship between the claimed conditions and service.