Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a TBI is granted.,An effective date earlier than November 7, 2016, for the award of service connection for residual scars, left periorbital, right upper lip and right chin is denied.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for residual scars, left periorbotal, right upper lip and right chin is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for headaches and memory loss condition have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The right hand strain, cervical spine disability, fibromyalgia, CTE, headache condition, colloid cyst of the brain, and TBI issues are being remanded for further evaluation.,VA treatment records should be obtained. A VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right hand disability.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the claims for service connection were not addressed as they are moot.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for traumatic brain injury is dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, PTSD, TBI, type II diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss has been remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The effective dates for service connection have also not been established.

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for right knee patellofemoral syndrome, right shoulder pain, chronic headaches, head injury with facial reconstruction (now claimed as traumatic brain injury), and cervical strain were denied. The claim for CTS of the right wrist was granted.,The Veteran's requests to increase his PTSD rating and service connection for substance abuse secondary to PTSD are remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired anxiety disorder, residuals of frostbite of the upper extremities, and residuals of frostbite of the lower extremities during a hearing before the Board.,VA denied the Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence showing that he had hearing loss within one year after separation from active service.

The Veteran's appeal of his claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus has been withdrawn.,The RO is directed to obtain updated VA treatment records and SSA records, as well as any missing service treatment records from the David Grant Medical Center and NPRC.,VA should request that the Veteran submit any outstanding evidence regarding his claimed in-service exposure to dead bodies and race riots at Travis Air Force Base. The RO should also request a Statement in Support of Claim for PTSD Secondary to Personal Assault, and provide adequate notice as to such claim.,The RO should afford the Veteran new VA examinations for his acquired psychiatric disorders (PTSD, depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder), TBI, migraine headaches, TMJ, cervical spine disabilities, lumbar spine disability, right upper extremity disability, and right lower extremity disability. Adequate etiological opinions are needed.,The RO should afford the Veteran VA examinations for his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as a new VA examination for his right upper extremity disability (right shoulder and arm pain and numbness, right hand disability).,The RO should afford the Veteran VA examinations for his right lower extremity disability. Adequate etiological opinions are needed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury and Headaches, finding that there is no current disability related to the in-service head injury.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied. The reduction of the PTSD disability rating from 50 to 30 percent, effective July 1, 2019, was proper and has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding her TBI, bilateral hip disability, fibromyalgia, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral wrist disability other than CTS.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and dizziness and loss of balance, finding that these conditions were not incurred or related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current TBI is related to his service. The Veteran contends that he experienced a car accident in service and has had symptoms of TBI since then.

The Veteran's claim for a left ankle disorder is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The effective date for the grant of a 10% rating for right ankle arthritis is being remanded due to lack of factual ascertainability within one year prior to December 28, 2015.,The Veteran's claim for a psychiatric disorder is remanded as there are conflicting medical opinions and missing records need to be obtained.,The Veteran's claim for a head injury/ TBI is being remanded due to the lack of an adequate VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for a seizure-like disorder is being remanded due to the lack of an adequate VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10% for right ankle arthritis is being remanded as there are insufficient range of motion tests.

The Veteran's TBI residuals are being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions, including hepatitis C, arthritis, frostbite, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeal is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including left hand, right hand, left arm, right arm, bilateral foot, left hip, neck, and TBI disabilities. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent and credible evidence of current diagnoses or a causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including CAD, ulcerated colitis, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, CFS, diverticulitis, residuals of TBI, seizures and/or epilepsy, and PTSD are granted. The decision also includes remand items for further review.

The Veteran's right knee and low back disabilities are being remanded as the VA examiners did not adequately address whether they were caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded to determine if he has a current hearing loss disability, and its likely etiology.,The Veteran's tinnitus is being remanded to determine its likely etiology, including whether it was incurred in service.,The Veteran's psychiatric disabilities are being remanded as the VA examiners did not adequately address his request for treatment during service or any head injury therein.,The Veteran's TBI and migraine headaches are being remanded to determine their likely etiology.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD was denied, and his claims for service connection for PTSD and residuals of frostbite were not granted. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule an examination.