Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for TBI residuals with headaches and cognitive difficulties, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since December 18, 2014. The initial compensable disability ratings for his scar and TBI are granted. His right shoulder and left shoulder degenerative changes are each rated as non-compensable. His right ankle sprain and left ankle sprain are both remanded.

The Board denied service connection for frostbite of the hands as there is no current diagnosis and no evidence linking it to active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.,The Board also found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of residuals of frostbite on his left foot. As such, service connection for this issue is also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for TBI and migraines due to a lack of medical examination, as well as the need to consider the credibility of the Veteran's testimony regarding in-service head injuries.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the complexity of the issues.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the claims related to TBI, migraine headaches, right knee disability, right leg shin splints, numbness and tremors of upper and lower extremities, heat sensitivity, and vision problems. The Veteran's service records indicate exposure to heat stroke during his military service.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including TDIU and evaluations for various conditions. The Board has determined that these issues are inextricably intertwined with the issue of TDIU and has therefore remanded all matters.

The appeal for service connection of tension and migraine headaches is dismissed, while the appeal seeking a compensable initial rating for TBI from March 14, 2016 to May 8, 2018 remains denied.

The Veteran's cause of death and burial benefits claims are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding substitution as the appellant is seeking to continue his pending service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to residuals of a right foot fracture, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right shoulder glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, recurrent dislocation, and tension headaches have been remanded due to the need for further development.,No effective date was assigned as the issues are still under review.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and denied an increased rating for PTSD. The claim for earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus, type II is remanded.,Service connection for PTSD was not granted due to lack of current disability and no in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disability, urinary incontinence, residuals of a TBI, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy, to include as due to a service connected disability, and total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service connected disabilities. Additional development is required including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's spouse contends that the Veteran had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in service, which resulted in long-term memory loss and headaches. The Board has ordered a remand to obtain medical records and conduct an examination to determine if any diagnosed TBI residuals are related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and headaches, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service head injury. The decision also reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim.

The Veteran's claim to reopen a service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and headaches is granted. Service connection for headaches, claimed as residuals of TBI, is also granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of various foot and leg conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury with Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar Type (also claimed as bipolar, manic depressive, mental condition, PTSD, and personality disorder) was granted in December 2016 effective October 5, 2006. The Board found no earlier effective date is permitted by law.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, and a brain tumor. The evidence did not show any in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.,There was no medical evidence linking the current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his ability to work with all of his service-connected disabilities. The case will be referred to the Director, Compensation and Pension Service for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU rating.