Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. Service connection for TBI is denied. The Board has remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient medical opinions and missing records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including a new VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression and TBI with vertigo. The issues on appeal include the propriety of combining the ratings for these conditions and the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for TBI with metal plate, headaches, and memory impairment due to new evidence added to the claims file.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and increased evaluations for posttraumatic headaches due to conflicting evidence regarding their causes.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for residuals of frostbite is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his right eye disability was withdrawn. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for TBI residuals and an increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an updated examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his cause of death, specifically liver failure and/or chronic cirrhosis.

The Veteran's TBI with cognitive disorder caused moderate impairment in memory, attention, concentration, and executive functions since April 8, 2009. A rating of 70 percent has been granted for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back, left knee, right knee, TBI, and acquired psychiatric disorders due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an inguinal hernia and granted it. The claim of service connection for tinnitus is also granted, but the issue of lower extremity residuals of a frostbite injury is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for traumatic brain injury and service connection for tinnitus were granted. The appeals to reopen his claims of bilateral hearing loss, left ear infection, left ankle disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and right eye disability are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for frostbite residuals of the hands and feet, finding that the Veteran's reports are credible and consistent with his service. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for a sleep disorder due to conflicting etiology reports.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions.,Service connection was also denied for chronic hairy/B-cell leukemia secondary to herbicide exposure at Udorn RTAFB.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran sustained a cold injury during service, which could affect his claim for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for frostbite of fingers and cheeks, residuals of lightning electrocution, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) have been dismissed. The appeal regarding the psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that TDIU benefits are warranted.

The Veteran's TBI rating is restored to 10 percent, effective February 18, 2014. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for noise sensitivity, left and right ear hearing loss (secondary to TBI and sinusitis), and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability, frostbite of bilateral feet, and frostbite of bilateral hands due to outstanding service treatment records. The Veteran reported injuries during basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and in Korea.

The Board denied service connection for frostbite residuals of the bilateral feet, finding no evidence that these conditions are related to military service.