Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for TBI, right eye condition, and partial frostbite as there was no evidence of persistent symptoms indicative of a TBI or current diagnosis of the conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and therefore, the claims are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has Traumatic Brain Injury and whether it is related to his service. The Veteran's symptoms have been noted but no definitive diagnosis of TBI has been made.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disability, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability. The claim for residuals from traumatic brain injury (TBI) was denied as there is no current diagnosis of such.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI is related to head trauma sustained during service, and therefore grants service connection for a TBI. The claim regarding Bell's palsy will be remanded as it relates to the now granted TBI.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a TBI is 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 appeal has been dismissed due to their death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite of the hands and feet, depression, a low back disability, and epistaxis. However, the preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, TBI residuals, and headaches have been granted. The examiner found that the Veteran's PTSD medications caused or aggravated his erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxiety disorder, NOS has been granted a rating of 70 percent. The other claims have not met the criteria for an initial compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits has been granted, and he is now receiving a 100 percent evaluation for his heart condition (CAD). His renal insufficiency with hypertension is rated at 60 percent. He also receives SMC based on housebound status due to his CAD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to a lack of evidence showing that a claim form was received within one year of his intent to file, which would have made March 31, 2015, the date of claim. The earliest effective date assigned is April 4, 2016.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, concussion (also claimed as TBI), bleeding ears, and macular degeneration due to a lack of competent evidence showing current diagnoses or signs/symptoms thereof.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a TBI was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that is a residual of a TBI in service. The claims for back and neck disabilities, and hypertension secondary to PTSD were not adjudicated due to the need for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder and denied the remaining issues on appeal. The Veteran is now entitled to increased ratings for his PTSD with alcohol abuse, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's disability evaluation from 70 percent to 10 percent for TBI was improper and ordered restoration of the prior rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI is related to his in-service parachute accident, and service connection for this condition is granted. Other issues on appeal are remanded.

The Veteran's application to reopen his service connection claim for residuals of frostbite and foot fungus was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI has been reopened and granted, with a rating of 70% effective from November 10, 2010. The Veteran is also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an opinion regarding the relationship between his diabetes and TBI.