Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD and TBI have been granted a 70 percent rating, but no higher. The appeal for other issues remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for brain disease due to trauma, including traumatic brain injury, as there is no current disability of TBI shown in the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in January 2013, and the decision is final. The Veteran did not submit new and material evidence within one year of the denial.,Service connection for PTSD and TBI were granted effective from August 31, 2015, but the Veteran requested an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, right radial traumatic neuropathy, degenerative changes to thoracolumbar spine (lumbar spine disability), bilateral hearing loss, TBI residuals, and headaches have all been denied. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy in either leg or any other service-connected condition related to the issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA examination, and further evaluation is needed to determine if the Veteran's current TBI residuals are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's sensorineural hearing loss in the right ear is currently rated as noncompensable (0 percent) from April 5, 2016. The Veteran does not have a current disability of sensorineural hearing loss in the left ear for VA purposes.,Service connection for the left shoulder disorder and right shoulder disorder are both denied because there was no in-service injury, disease, or event associated with either shoulder.,The Veteran's low back disorder is currently rated as noncompensable (0 percent) from April 5, 2016. The current lower back disorder did not have its onset during service and is not otherwise related to active duty service.,Service connection for TBI is remanded due to insufficient competent medical evidence on file.

The Board found that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service in various ways. Service connection was granted for an unspecified depressive disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, tinnitus, residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), epilepsy, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain/dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for TBI with post-concussion syndrome is remanded due to inadequate VA examination. The claim for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disability remains pending and requires issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sickle cell anemia has been denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or superimposed disease.,The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for various disabilities, including blurred vision, hearing loss, and PTSD with memory loss, are remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's TBI rating was reduced from 40% to 10%, effective April 10, 2014. The GERD and shoulder conditions were remanded for further evaluation. Other issues related to service connection or disability ratings remain pending.

The Board has found that the Veteran did not experience a TBI in service and denied his claim for service connection. The headaches are currently diagnosed, but the Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to determine if they are related to service or PTSD.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for residuals of left wrist fracture, kidney disorder, bilateral eye disorder, and lung disorder have been granted. The petitions to reopen the remaining issues are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially and materially to his death from accidental heroin intoxication, which the Board finds was secondary to self-medication of PTSD symptoms.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the lack of complete service treatment records, including a separation examination. Additionally, SMC based on aid and attendance/housebound is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a head injury with residual chronic headaches is granted. The claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, thoracolumbar spine disorder, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, traumatic brain injury with residual headaches, and right knee disability are all remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied due to lack of evidence showing an increase in disability within one year prior to the filing of his intent to file a claim.,An earlier effective date was granted for the assignment of a separate rating for sinusitis, but not earlier than May 31, 2016.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was incurred during service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of this case as he is no longer alive.

The Veteran's claims for headaches, petrous apex lesions, and TBI have been remanded due to the need for a VA examination. The Veteran claimed his headaches were related to service, but no current diagnosis of TBI was found.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and TBI due to inadequate examinations and conflicting evidence. The Veteran is seeking a new examination and opinion regarding his TBI claim, as well as clarification on whether his current sleep apnea is related to his service-connected conditions.