Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for TBI residuals and a compensable rating for GERD from November 1, 2014 due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's conditions and his military service.

An increased disability rating of 40 percent for lumbar disorder is granted effective April 1, 2008.,A higher disability rating in excess of 20 percent prior to April 1, 2008, and a compensable rating thereafter for TBI with cephalgia are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not found to have caused or contributed substantially and materially to his death. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy, obstructive sleep apnea, memory loss claimed as secondary to TBI, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The appeals were remanded for further action on some issues.

The Veteran's request to reopen service connection for a back disorder is denied. Service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury is granted, but the initial rating for bilateral hearing loss remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety and cognitive disorder due to TBI is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they do not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and evidence collection. The Board will consider each condition individually, including tinnitus, sulfa drug allergy, low back disorder, vertigo, narcolepsy, headache disorder (secondary to TBI), acquired psychiatric disorder (secondary to TBI), and IBS.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of cold injury, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, back disorder, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and neck disorder are denied. The claims for reopening of service connection for headache disorder and skin disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating determinations have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all remaining claims.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was denied. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for non-epileptic seizure associated with residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), residuals of TBI, tension headaches, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with depressive disorder not otherwise specified and alcohol abuse, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for TBI with posttraumatic headache is remanded due to the need for clarification from the VA examiner regarding subjective symptoms and their impact on work.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and sleep apnea need further development due to incomplete medical records and inconsistencies in the evidence. The case is being remanded to provide a new VA examination and obtain additional information.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, including mood disorder and traumatic brain injury is remanded due to the lack of medical records from his private psychologist.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability and TBI. The decision on TBI is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for TBI residuals, finding that the Veteran's cognitive impairment warranted a level '1' evaluation on the table of facets of cognitive impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury was denied, but his claim for an increased evaluation for migraine headaches was granted and he is now rated at 50%.

The Veteran's TBI and related conditions were caused by VA medical treatment, specifically a fall during post-surgical care. The Board found that the proximate cause of the injury was due to negligence on the part of VA personnel.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for traumatic brain injury with cognitive disorder not otherwise specified has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.