Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's testimony was heard and his SSA disability benefits were noted. The case is being remanded to obtain the Veteran's complete SSA records.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI resulted in occupational and social impairment prior to October 19, 2018. The Board granted a 70 percent rating for this period. Sleep apnea was remanded due to lack of probative value in the November 2020 VA examination. Right knee internal derangement and low back disability were also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a head injury, to include TBI, and a back disability, to include degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome, finding no credible evidence of current disabilities or in-service injuries that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and review due to missing service treatment records and outstanding private treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and residuals of a TBI are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting evidence and need for further development. The claims include prostate cancer, hyperthyroidism, erectile dysfunction (secondary to prostate cancer), TBI, and depression.

The Veteran was granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and TBI with memory loss from December 2, 2016. The decision denied a higher rating for the period from December 18, 2012, through December 1, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a higher initial disability rating of 40 percent for the service-connected TBI, both effective from January 14, 2015.

The Board has denied service connection for frostbite residuals of the right lower extremity, right upper extremity, and left upper extremity. However, it has granted service connection for frostbite residuals of the left lower extremity.,Service connection was not established for a gynecological disability, to include a uterine disability.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted.,The Veteran's service-connected migraines have been rated at 50% since February 5, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to new evidence being submitted after the September 2016 SOC, March 2017 SSOC, and September 2018 decision. The AOJ is instructed to consider this new evidence in their next rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the reduction of his TBI disability rating, discontinuation of TDIU benefits, and discontinuation of Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits. As a result, these appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's left eye disorder, including macular scar, glaucomatous atrophy, cataract, and intraocular lens, is denied as not related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed residuals of frostbite and his current foot problems. The case will be returned for a VA examination with file review and findings on the likely etiology of any current circulatory or similar disorders affecting his feet, including as due to cold weather training at Mt. Fuji in Japan.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for various conditions and initial disability ratings, as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in its entirety prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's TBI is granted, with the Board finding that his current symptoms are related to in-service head injuries.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss prior to July 19, 2021 is denied. From July 19, 2021 onwards, a disability rating of 10 percent is assigned.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of cold injuries of the bilateral hands is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed condition. The Board finds that a new VA examination and opinion are necessary to determine if there is a current disability related to in-service exposure to cold weather.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU rating for the period from July 1, 2016 to August 31, 2018. For the periods prior to and after this date, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete or insufficient evidence, and for additional development of his medical records. The issues include service connection for herpes simplex, a bilateral foot disability, residuals of frostbite in both feet, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's TBI residuals, craniotomy, CSF leak, and brain disease. The examiner is asked to provide opinions on whether these conditions are related to service-connected knee and ankle disorders.