Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the service connection claims for various disabilities, including left arm pain, right arm pain, right hip pain, left hip pain, right eye vision loss, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, enlarged prostate, traumatic brain injury (TBI), let leg condition, right leg pain, anxiety condition, and left eye vision loss.

The Board has denied service connection for the residuals of a traumatic brain injury and has remanded the issue of total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for PTSD is granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for PTSD. His bilateral foot pain is also found to be incurred during service. The Veteran's TBI remains in dispute due to outstanding medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and a compensable initial rating for service-connected residuals of traumatic brain injury due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records from his private neurologist.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left foot disability, left knee disability, TBI, bilateral hearing loss, and eye condition due to inadequate examinations and lack of nexus opinions.

The Veteran's current neck disorder, diagnosed as chronic cervical strain with degenerative changes, is related to his military service. Service connection for this condition is granted.,There is no evidence that the Veteran's TBI and headache disorder are causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence for the disability rating and effective date issues related to their TBI.

The Veteran's TBI is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.,For headaches, the Veteran was granted an initial 30 percent rating effective April 7, 2016. The issue of whether he should receive a higher rating remains pending.

The Veteran's TBI with vertigo and TDIU claims are remanded due to the need for a new VA examination, as well as VCAA notice regarding his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to ambiguities in the Veteran's Notice of Disagreement and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for headaches and traumatic brain injury due to insufficient medical opinions and consideration of the Veteran's statements regarding his symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and breathing problems due to asbestos exposure are being remanded as new opinions are needed.,The Veteran's claim for allergic rhinitis is being remanded because his condition may have worsened since the last examination.,The Veteran's claim for right shoulder disability is being remanded due to insufficient evidence of increased severity over time.,Whether the character of the Veteran's discharge during December 1998 to October 2001 constitutes a bar to VA compensation benefits is being remanded as new opinions are needed regarding mental health issues and insanity.,The Veteran's claim for an undiagnosed illness or MUCMI, including weight changes, idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, spondylitis, autoimmune disease, and chronic fatigue, is being remanded due to the need for clarification of his medical records.,The Veteran's claim for periodic numbness of the lip and jaw (secondary to genioglossal advancement surgery) is being remanded as new opinions are needed regarding the nature and etiology of his condition.,The Veteran's claim for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is being remanded due to inextricability with the character of discharge issue.,The Veteran's claim for a deviated septum is being remanded due to inextricability with the character of discharge issue.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with other claims.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of service connection for headaches, secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder NOS with features of PTSD, was granted. The appeal for service connection for asbestosis and petitions to reopen claims for tinnitus, squamous cell carcinoma of the right base of the tongue, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) were dismissed.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding multiple service connection claims due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's migraines associated with TBI are granted a 30 percent rating, effective August 5, 2021. The left knee patellofemoral syndrome is granted a separate 10 percent rating for painful limitation of extension from July 26, 2021. Other issues and conditions remain unresolved.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Stomach Condition, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Sleep Apnea. The claims were dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating higher than 10 percent for right knee chondromalacia patella and entitlement to a rating higher than 10 percent for traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Veteran's TBI, headaches, GERD, and right thumb arthritis are granted. The lower extremity radiculopathy claims are remanded for further examination.

The Board dismissed the appeals due to the death of the appellant.