Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's need for aid and attendance and housebound status, related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right hip strain is dismissed. The Board also finds that further development is necessary regarding the Veteran’s TBI and related ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury, right knee strain, left knee strain, cervical strain prior to June 17, 2016, and lumbosacral strain from June 17, 2016 due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected disabilities and his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for higher levels of special monthly compensation based on loss of use of both lower extremities or need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury, neck injury, headaches (including migraines), scar on the right forehead, and left ear disability due to conflicting evidence and lack of clear medical findings.

The Board has decided that service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, but the issue of service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury remains pending and requires further review.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left eye disability has been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the remaining issues of service connection for TBI, headaches, low back disability, right eye disability, and chronic disability due to residuals of metal embedded in the head.

The Veteran's service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury is granted. An increased rating of 90 percent for the residuals, total hip replacement, is also granted. The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated as 10 percent disabling due to limitation of flexion and extension. Special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance is granted.

The Veteran's headaches, residual of traumatic brain injury are granted at a 50% rating prior to June 7, 2017.,A total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected headaches, residuals of traumatic brain injury is also granted.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding initial ratings and earlier effective dates for PTSD, migraine headaches, and TBI. The claims are therefore dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI has been granted a 70 percent rating, effective from September 11, 2014. The appeal for an earlier effective date was withdrawn.

This decision denies the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for diverticulitis, an earlier effective date for the 70 percent rating for residuals of traumatic brain injury with unspecified anxiety disorder, and an earlier effective date for the 20 percent rating for low back disability. The Board found that there was no evidence showing an increase in severity within one year prior to July 5, 2018.

The Veteran's disability ratings for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with associated Erectile Dysfunction and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Residuals were restored to their previous levels of 70 percent and 40 percent, respectively.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate statements of reasons or bases for the adequacy of VA examinations related to TBI. The Veteran needs an adequate TBI examination by a specialist, such as a psychiatrist, physiatrist, neurosurgeon, or neurologist, to determine if he has residuals of a TBI and its etiology.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the issues have also become moot.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal.,Service connection was denied for cervical, low back, and right knee disabilities. The Veteran did not have TBI or a vision problem at any time during the pendency of the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed frostbite residuals are related to his in-service exposure to cold temperatures, and thus service connection for a bilateral leg disability is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on his left knee disability and PTSD/TBI combined rating is denied. The left knee disability remains rated at 10 percent, with a separate 10 percent rating granted for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage in the left knee. A temporary total disability rating was granted from June 18, 2018 to July 30, 2018 due to surgery. The combined PTSD/TBI rating remains at 70 percent.

Service connection for TBI and sleep apnea, as well as headaches and GERD, is denied.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for increased ratings.