Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI) residuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and cognitive disorder due to TBI need further evaluation as the last VA examination was conducted over three years ago.

The Veteran's head trauma to include TBI was incurred during his period of active duty service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis or residuals from a fall to include left rib injury. The Board denied service connection for this issue.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the initial ratings assigned for various service-connected disabilities, including Traumatic Brain Injury, Cervical Spine Disability, Left Shoulder Disability, Right Shoulder Disability, Lumbar Spine Disability, and others.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating issues have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims by the Veteran during his hearing.,Additional development is required for the following issues: whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for residuals of a neck injury, service connection for sleep apnea secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder and service-connected sinusitis, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), initial rating higher than 10 percent for right shoulder strain and rotator cuff tendonitis, initial rating higher than 10 percent for instability of the left knee, and initial rating higher than 10 percent for left knee strain with meniscus repair surgery.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted with a rating of 70 percent, effective September 15, 2015.,Effective dates prior to September 15, 2015 for service connection and increased ratings are denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance was denied. The Board found that no formal or informal claim had been filed prior to March 20, 2012.,The reduction of the TBI rating from 10 percent to noncompensable was upheld as proper. The Veteran's PTSD rating remained at 100 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is denied as there is no current disability related to the TBI.

The Veteran's skin disorder and TBI-related headaches have been denied service connection, with the Board finding no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.,Further examination is required to determine if the Veteran has a current psychiatric disorder, TBI, headache disorder, vision disorder, or hypertension that is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the current severity of service-connected labyrinthitis, the nature and etiology of any headache disability, including residuals of a head injury such as traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic headaches, and whether TDIU should be granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.,The Veteran’s migraine and tension headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, reflecting prostrating attacks occurring several times per month.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a total disability evaluation, effective from the date of claim (March 22, 2007).,Service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no evidence of a prior claim before March 22, 2007.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include schizophrenia. The Regional Office is instructed to obtain private treatment records from various providers and readjudicate the cases.

The Board has decided that a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran currently has residuals of a traumatic brain injury, including from service. The current evidence does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining missing in-service medical records from Fort Jackson. The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions are pending and will be reconsidered after the additional evidence is obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including frostbite and cold injury residuals, prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and possibly a VA examination. The TDIU claim is also on appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of TBI and a headache disability are granted. The Board found that the current residuals of TBI were attributable to in-service events, and his post-concussive headaches were incurred during active service.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for a right eye disability, respiratory disability, right hip disability, and TBI. However, it denied these claims as there is no evidence to support that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran’s claim is denied as the RO did not contain clear and unmistakable error in denying service connection for residuals of left rib fracture. The Veteran is granted an initial rating of 10 percent for his service-connected TBI, but no higher. His claims for increased ratings for PTSD and Crohn's disease are denied. An earlier effective date for the award of a 30 percent rating for Crohn's disease is also denied.