Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral patellar tendinitis (jumper's knee), bilateral shin splints, and elbow osteoarthritis. The remaining claims of service connection for sleep apnea, TBI including headaches and seizures, and a disorder of the thoracic and/or lumbar spine are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an initial increased rating for service-connected residuals of a TBI was denied. The Board found that the manifestations of his cognitive impairment, such as memory loss and attention difficulties, were not clearly differentiated from those of his PTSD. As a result, he is currently rated at 10 percent for TBI residuals.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a current diagnosis of traumatic brain injury and for individual unemployability, which is inextricably intertwined with the service connection issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI and Hepatitis C are not related to service, while partial complex seizures have been denied due to lack of evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder strain and found that the Veteran's current right shoulder disorder is related to his in-service injury. The claim for an increased rating for traumatic brain injury remains pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his active service.,There is no evidence of cardiovascular disability in service or otherwise linked to service. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of cardiovascular disability.,The Veteran does not have cold injury residuals to the upper extremities, lower extremities, or psychiatric disability (PTSD and anxiety disorder).,The Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disability did not originate in service and is not otherwise etiologically related to service. The Veteran does not have PTSD.,There is no evidence of stomach disorder in service or a current diagnosis of stomach disorder. The Veteran's IBS is not secondary to service-connected ankylostomiasis.,The Veteran's ankylostomiasis has been inactive and thus not resulting in any current manifestations of symptoms or impairment during the period of the appeal.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a service-connected disability for any of the Veteran's claimed conditions. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to appear for a scheduled VA examination. The case will be reviewed and additional evidence may be obtained before readjudication.

Your appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference or travel board hearing. If you do not want the hearing, please inform the RO in writing.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent, and his claims for service connection for TBI and suspected glaucoma were denied. The claim for higher evaluation of the lumbar spine disability was not granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a TBI with memory problems due to new and material evidence. However, further development is needed before the merits of the issue can be adjudicated.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's TBI residuals were rated at 10 percent prior to October 23, 2008 and increased to 30 percent thereafter. The current rating is in line with the criteria for a 30 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 8045.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding service connection for back disability and traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to address the service connection of his headaches and TBI. The case will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, left knee disability, and lumbar spine disability were granted. The Veteran was also awarded a higher rating for her residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information from the April 2013 VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed TBI and loss of consciousness. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to clarify the nature and etiology of his current symptoms, to include recurrent headaches, balance problems, tinnitus, and memory loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including pseudofolliculitis barbae, acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral knee and hearing loss, burn scar disability, obstructive sleep apnea, TBI, high blood pressure, back disability, and tinnitus. The effective date for the grant of service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae was not earlier than September 27, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are pending. The rating for TBI has been granted, but the status of the issues related to migraine headaches and right knee disability is unclear.