Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including low back pain, eye condition, kidney problems, left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, right hand pain, and left heel pain. The decision also remanded cases involving bilateral hearing loss, trichomoniasis, scar of the right index finger, stress fracture of the left lower extremity, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and residuals of a stress fracture of the left tibia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a TBI is reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further examination and medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any current TBI or concussion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for traumatic brain injury and other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating for his service-connected traumatic brain injury, as he only had Level 0 impairment of any cognitive function throughout the appeal period. For his other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, the Board also found no evidence to support an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for new examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury, migraine headaches, and major depression with generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for tremors and an effective date prior to October 4, 2012, for a 20 percent rating for lumbar strain. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for TBI and tinnitus have been reopened due to new and material evidence. The Board has also remanded the claims for PTSD, TBI, tinnitus, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for TBI, PTSD, head scar, and left shoulder disability were denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a rating higher than 40 percent for TBI or 70 percent for PTSD.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 20 percent evaluation for cervical spine disability effective June 4, 2018. The claim of service connection for TBI and the issue of a higher rating for cervical spine disability are both remanded.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, along with PTSD and TBI residuals, has been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the entire appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, pulmonary fibrosis, and residuals of frostbite as there was no evidence to support a causal link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and remanded it for further examination. The TBI is alleged to be related to an in-service head injury, but there are no medical opinions regarding the nature or etiology of the TBI.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for TBI residuals was dismissed. The appeals for service connection for headaches, multiple lipomas, IBS, and a skin condition were all granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and PTSD, need further review due to new evidence being added to his file. He is required to undergo VA examinations to evaluate these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for an increased rating for TBI with PTSD and a separate rating for PTSD due to inextricably intertwined issues. A VA psychiatrist or psychologist is needed to provide an etiological opinion regarding any distinct PTSD disability diagnosed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for vision problems, passive dependent personality disorder, and traumatic brain injury. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than passive dependent personality disorder was also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for residuals of cold weather injury and PTSD. The case is remanded to obtain additional evidence and conduct further examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of concussion TBI, PTSD, and adjustment disorder with depressed mood as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeals for various ratings and effective dates related to his TBI have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of various conditions have been dismissed. The claims for TBI, dizziness, HTN, bone spur and wart of the right foot, blurred vision, plantar fasciitis of the left foot, migraine headaches, and residuals of fractured right shoulder were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to potential missing Social Security Administration records that may contain relevant information.

The Veteran withdrew from the appeal all claims related to bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD with major depressive disorder and a cognitive disorder, dry eye syndrome with eyelid cysts, and TBI.