Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frostbite on both his left and right feet, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for service-connected TBI was granted, with a 10 percent rating effective September 22, 2017. An earlier effective date prior to March 9, 2010, is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cognitive impairment, as a residual of his traumatic brain injury incurred during service, is service-connected.

The Veteran's April 2017 Notice of Disagreement was not timely filed, and the appeal for service connection for residuals of TBI is denied.

The Veteran's application to reopen his service connection for vascular disease was denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. The claim for ED is also denied.,Service connection for GAD with depressed features has been granted, but an effective date prior to March 15, 2012, is denied.,Service connection for tonic-clonic seizures with grand mal seizures and TBI are all denied as well, with no effective dates being granted.,The Veteran's initial rating for TBI was remanded due to the need for further evaluation.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and access issues. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are believed to have contributed to his death, but a new VA opinion is needed to determine if they caused or contributed substantially to it.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of left-hand index finger fracture, as well as no current disability related to TBI. Service connection was not granted for TBI due to lack of a recent diagnosis prior to filing. Increased rating claims were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI), and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical examinations. The issues include back, neck, foot, urticaria, TBI, and headaches.

The Veteran's PTSD is etiologically related to his active duty service.,Service connection for cervical spine strain and lumbar spine strain are remanded due to insufficient evidence of in-service injury or disease.,Service connection for bilateral ankle lateral ligament strain and cephalgia headaches are remanded due to insufficient evidence of in-service injury or disease.,Service connection for myelodysplastic syndrome is granted as it was initially diagnosed during active duty service.,Service connection for TBI is remanded due to lack of medical records from the 1993 motor vehicle accident and incomplete service treatment records.,Entitlement to a special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss of use of a creative organ is held in abeyance as it is intrinsically intertwined with the remanded erectile dysfunction issue.

The Veteran's residuals of TBI, including a concussion, were manifested by no worse than level '1' impairment for any facets according to the Evaluation of Cognitive Impairment and Other Residuals of TBI Not Otherwise Classified table. As such, his disability was rated at 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for TBI residuals and a neck disorder due to inadequate VA examinations. Additional evidence is needed, including VA treatment records and additional VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability but has remanded the issue of service connection for residuals of TBI due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury and SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person and/or being housebound has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to service and was not diagnosed until after separation.,Hypertension did not manifest within one year of service discharge, and there is no evidence linking it to service.,There is no evidence of a TBI event during service or current residuals. The Veteran’s blacking out episodes are attributed to another cause.,Migraine headaches were not diagnosed until years after separation and do not have a clear link to service.

The Veteran's fungal infection and psoriasis are granted as service-connected. The Board also remanded several issues for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and traumatic brain injury due to incomplete information in his medical records.

The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches are rated at a 30 percent disability rating, which is granted. The Veteran's TBI and PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder warrant further review as the current rating of 50 percent is not sufficient.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeals regarding TBI, PTSD, and sinusitis before a decision was made by the Board.