Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from incarceration facilities and scheduling specialized examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for lung disability, colon polyps, TBI (head injury), seizures, bilateral athlete’s foot, and kidney disease. The Board dismissed these appeals.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is granted. The issue of an evaluation higher than 10 percent for the service-connected head injury from shrapnel wound with subdural hematoma, cerebral edema, scarring, and retained shrapnel fragments (traumatic brain injury or TBI) is remanded.

The appeal for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus is dismissed. Headaches are not productive of prostrating attacks and do not warrant a compensable rating. Service connection for left knee strain and right knee disability is denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during service or related to service. The Veteran's current right knee disability is remanded due to the lack of a diagnosis in the medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C and an increased rating for TBI residuals were both denied. The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran’s current conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury, Eye Disorder (Blurred Vision), Heart Condition, and Diabetes Mellitus require further development due to incomplete medical records and need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection. The RO must obtain updated VA treatment records from various facilities and associate them with the claims file.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of TBI, pruritus, and sternum dislocation.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including whether they are related to service or other factors.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his cervical spine disability, TBI residuals (memory loss), and migraine headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for residuals of head trauma, including TBI, headaches, sleep walking, and a psychiatric disorder, as well as schizophrenia. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a head injury, to include TBI, and awarded a TDIU rating based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The issue of service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is remanded.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 50 percent, effective from May 2014. The Board also granted TDIU based on the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, headaches, and cognitive disorder are inextricably intertwined with his claim for service connection for residuals of TBI. Therefore, these issues have been remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability and residuals of a traumatic brain injury are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) needs further examination and evaluation to determine if his current symptoms are related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral pes planus, right foot and toe cold weather injury (frostbite), hypertension, and muscle spasm with leg cramps to the right quad affecting the right knee are being remanded due to procedural errors.,The Veteran is not entitled to a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to address all reported symptoms. The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of frostbite of the feet will be reconsidered with a new examination.

The Veteran's migraine headaches and traumatic brain injury are found to be related to service, but the nature of his residuals is unclear. The Board has ordered a remand for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to insufficient evidence in the record, including a lack of recent VA knee and TBI examinations.