Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right-hand arthritis, a right ankle disability, right CTS, headaches, and residuals of frostbite. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances for a brace used for his service-connected back disability and topical medication used for his service-connected eczema in 2018, as there was no evidence that these items caused significant damage to his clothes.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including anxiety, frostbite residuals, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, have led to a TDIU claim. The Board has ordered further examination to assess the impact on employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in August 2009 and is not being reopened.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypogonadism and sleep apnea were reopened due to new evidence received since the December 2013 decision, but the issue of service connection remains remanded as it pertains to aggravation or secondary conditions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI was remanded due to insufficient information regarding its nature and etiology.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is being remanded, and the issue of TDIU remains remanded as it pertains to employability issues related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left and right shin disorders, hearing loss, residuals of hypothermia, and a psychiatric disorder. The Board found no evidence of chronic or identifiable disabilities in or after service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings are denied.,The Board has remanded the cases to obtain additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's depression and TBI to his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sacroiliitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), traumatic brain injury residuals, left wrist disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, narcolepsy, and fibromyalgia have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI and an acquired psychiatric disorder, but has determined that additional evidence is needed to decide these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbar strain, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and bilateral hearing loss as they have not been evaluated in over five years and the Veteran testified that his conditions have worsened. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to assess the current severity of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for clarification of an August 2016 VA examiner's opinion regarding the presence of a TBI with residual neurocognitive disorder.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for the residuals of TBI from March 24, 2009 is denied. The Board found that the criteria for a compensable initial disability rating are not met or more nearly approximated due to no complaints of impairment in memory, attention, concentration, or executive functions; normal judgment; always oriented to person, time, place, and situation; normal motor activity; normal visual spatial orientation; and normal ability to communicate by spoken and written language. The Veteran's symptoms of chronic dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance as well as the diagnosis of SSCD are not related to the TBI residuals from the in-service December 1998 motor vehicle accident.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and low back disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence such as VA treatment records related to his low back condition.

The appeal to reopen claims for service connection for a low back disability, tinnitus, and TBI is granted. Service connection for tinnitus is also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD rating is dismissed as the requested 70 percent rating has been granted.,Prior to September 20, 2010, the Veteran’s Meniere’s syndrome was rated at 30 percent. From that date forward, it is rated at 100 percent.,The Veteran's migraine headaches are now rated at 30 percent prior to March 23, 2019 and 50 percent thereafter.,SMC at the housebound rate has been granted from September 20, 2010. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury as there was no evidence of a current disability or link to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to the need for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a traumatic brain injury has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is now remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination with a specialist to determine if the Veteran currently has any residuals from a traumatic brain injury and whether it is at least as likely as not that the condition was incurred in service.

Service connection has been granted for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and cognitive impairment residual to a traumatic brain injury (TBI).,Remaining issues of entitlement to service connection have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been dismissed as the Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal.