Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if any of the Veteran's disabilities are related to service. The issues include right knee disability, lumbar disability, nasal disorder, TBI, OSA, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI is rated at 70 percent, effective September 11, 2015. The appeal for an earlier effective date was denied as the award of service connection occurred on the day after separation from active duty.

The Veteran's PTSD disability, which includes MDD and alcohol abuse, has been rated at 100 percent since March 5, 2012, due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, headache disorder, right trigeminal neuralgia, tinnitus, disfiguring and painful facial scars, and traumatic brain injury residuals, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted TDIU for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's initial 40 percent rating for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is granted effective March 6, 2019. SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is also granted with a higher level of SMC from July 31, 2019.

The Veteran's post-concussive migraine headaches were granted a 10% rating prior to January 24, 2019 and denied any higher ratings. For the period since January 24, 2019, he was denied a rating in excess of 30%. The TBI residuals were also denied any higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition. The cases of bilateral hearing loss and TBI are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's TBI with headaches and memory loss is granted a rating of 40 percent. The right knee disorder is also granted, but the left clavicle and shoulder disorders are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims due to concerns about the evaluation criteria used and conflicting medical histories.

The Veteran is not competent to handle disbursement of VA funds due to his mental health condition, resulting in total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for residuals from a traumatic brain injury and a sleep disorder, finding that the new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's TBI with memory impairment and associated chronic headaches are rated at a non-initial evaluation of 10 percent, which is denied as the criteria for higher ratings have not been met.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frostbite and left knee meniscus tear due to the unavailability of his service treatment records. The Veteran must undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left eye disability, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and left leg disability due to new evidence received after certification to the Board.

The Board's decision is partially vacated due to procedural deficiencies and the issues of temporary total evaluation for a left knee disorder and increased rating for a low back disorder are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for head injury, traumatic brain injury; psychiatric disability other than schizoaffective disorder; and an initial compensable rating for left index finger scar. The Board found no current residuals of a TBI or evidence of a psychiatric disability other than schizoaffective disorder. The left index finger scar was rated as noncompensable due to lack of painful or unstable characteristics.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for intermittent paresthesias of the fingertips has been reopened. The Board finds new and material evidence to support this claim.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and erectile dysfunction have not been established as these conditions are not shown during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's petitions to reopen service connection for various conditions were denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The effective date for the award of service connection for anxiety disorder was not advanced as requested.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for head scars, headache disability, TBI, and left ear hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his previously-denied claim for service connection for a TBI and residuals of surgery, finding that no new and material evidence had been received since the June 2017 rating decision.