Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board has restored service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and epilepsy as secondary to service-connected residuals of a TBI, effective from December 1, 2017.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for TBI was granted, and he is now entitled to a grant of service connection. His left knee disability remains rated at 20 percent. The increased rating claim for his left knee disability was denied. Service connection claims for depression secondary to TBI, right knee patellar tendon rupture as secondary to service-connected left knee disability and/or TBI, and bilateral hearing loss were all remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and proceedings due to issues related to service connection, TDIU, and exposure. The effective date of any award will be determined based on the evidence provided.

The Board has granted service connection for a TBI but has remanded the issue of service connection for a parafalcine meningioma due to exposure to burn pits during military service. The Veteran's meningioma is being evaluated under presumptive service connection based on exposure to toxic substances.

The Veteran's TBI symptoms, including mild memory loss and headaches, are rated at 10 percent. Separate ratings of 10 percent each are granted for tinnitus and vertigo associated with service-connected TBI. The rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) due to the lack of a current diagnosis. The cases for Neck Disability and Low Back Disability are remanded as the VA etiology opinions did not comply with the remand directives.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of dental trauma, migraine headaches (secondary to dental trauma), TBI, and acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression) due to the need for additional service treatment records. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the new and material evidence claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in the record, including missing service treatment records. The Veteran's conditions are being reviewed again with additional medical opinions based on all available information.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been presented. The right knee disability claim is being remanded for further examination, while the TBI claim remains denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current diagnoses of Traumatic Brain Injury and Right Knee Disorder are etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI has been rated at 70% since December 11, 2017. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and residuals of traumatic brain injury due to incomplete medical opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.

A 30 percent disability evaluation for headaches associated with a TBI from April 1, 2016 to September 18, 2017 is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals, left periorbital injury is being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for a higher disability rating for his scar over the left eye and for an acquired psychiatric disorder are also being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and traumatic brain injury, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability for VA purposes.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is granted as his tinnitus is etiologically related to noise exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the claims for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current TBI, speech disorder, learning/cognitive disorder, and balance problems are related to his active service. The Veteran failed to appear for the scheduled examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, MDD, depression, anxiety, memory problems, TBI residuals, insomnia, gastrointestinal disorder, sinus condition, CFS, loss of smell, morning stiffness and weakness, bilateral eye condition, OSA, and right shoulder disability. The AOJ is instructed to continue developing the claims by obtaining additional VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals for bilateral sinus condition and TBI. The appeals for bilateral foot, lower back, and right knee conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including TBI, inguinal hernia residuals, left and right knee strains. The cases are being returned for additional development.