Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and outstanding VA treatment records. The issues include back disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral hip disability, residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), disability manifested by impaired balance, fatigue, memory loss, bilateral hand disability (claimed as hand tremors), speech disability, and bilateral eye disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to duty-to-assist errors and a need for an examination to determine if the appellant was insane at the time of his in-service marijuana violations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder dislocation, hallux valgus (right foot), hypertension secondary to PTSD, and traumatic brain injury secondary to PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the period prior to November 8, 2017 due to insufficient evidence in the original decision. The case is now referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD effective from February 7, 2011. Service connection for TBI was denied as the preponderance of evidence did not support its occurrence during active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for malaria, service connection for TBI and/or residuals thereof, scars on the brain, and seizure disorder are remanded due to open medical questions.

The Board has granted nonservice-connected pension benefits from June 2, 2009 to August 18, 2017. The issues of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability and service connection for psychiatric disorder (including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) and residuals of traumatic brain injury are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and TBI were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings, as the symptoms of anxiety and depression did not meet the criteria for a 70% rating, but only a 50% rating was assigned.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, TBI, bilateral hearing loss, and left ankle scar, caused him to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of December 3, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI and associated migraine headaches are service-connected, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's TBI is now rated at 40 percent effective from May 19, 2017. Prior to this date, the highest level of impairment was considered '1'.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, erectile dysfunction, left testicular atrophy, neurodermatitis, and GAD. The decision also granted a higher disability evaluation for GAD from September 27, 2005, and awarded special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's TBI and sinusitis have been granted service connection. The lumbar spine, right shoulder, left knee, right knee, left eye, and left kidney disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI is rated at 70 percent from October 24, 2012. The rating was granted as the symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The appeal for service connection for PTSD is dismissed. The appeals for sleep apnea, left knee condition, right knee condition, and right hip condition are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including lumbar spine, cervical spine, right hip, sleep disorder, hypertension, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and right lower extremity neuropathy. The AOJ is instructed to obtain medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Veteran's service connection claims for TBI and PTSD have been granted. The claim for a higher rating for the lumbar spine disorder is denied, but the case is REMANDED as it may be affected by the grant of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's left shoulder, right shoulder, and right hip disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service.,IBS was not related to service.,Hemorrhoids were not related to service.,TBI was not related to service.,Migraine headaches were not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and its relationship to service.