Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim of competency is being remanded for further development due to conflicting evidence on his mental capacity. A new VA examination will be conducted to reassess whether he is competent to handle his financial affairs.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of cold injury to both hands and feet, face and ears, hepatitis C, and hypertension have been denied.,Service connection is not granted for any of the conditions listed.

The Veteran is currently in receipt of the maximum schedular rating of 30 percent for residuals of frostbite injuries to both feet, which are manifested by pain, numbness, cold sensitivity, skin color changes, locally impaired sensation and nail abnormalities.,For the entire appellate period, the Veteran's service-connected left foot frostbite injury is rated at 30 percent.

The Board has found that the appellant has residuals of a head trauma, which is related to service. As such, the claim for service connection for residuals of a head trauma is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a cold injury, to include frostbite of the bilateral lower extremities, was denied as there is no evidence of current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and vision problems is being remanded due to the need for additional records from Dr. Longmire.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neurological conditions, including dizziness, memory loss, and cognitive difficulties, are related to his service-connected residuals of traumatic brain injury. The claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's skin disability claim for further development, including a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed skin disabilities. The Veteran is seeking service connection for multiple skin conditions that he contends are related to his active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have any currently diagnosed residuals of TBI incurred in active duty and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders and TBI.

The Veteran seeks service connection for residuals of frostbite to the feet, which he claims are related to exposure to cold weather during his service in Germany. The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to missing service treatment records and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection, reopening claims for bilateral hearing loss and frostbite are pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development of factual and medical evidence, including obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records and obtaining a VA medical opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a low back disorder, neck disorder, or TBI residuals that began in service and are related to such service.,As such, the claims for service connection for these conditions have been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, and a cervical spine disorder. The evidence did not establish current disabilities or link these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of the rating decision. Service connection for lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and residuals of traumatic brain injury are not granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's muscle and joint pain is due to an undiagnosed illness, which is not attributable to any known clinical diagnosis. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection of headaches, dental injury, head injury (traumatic brain injury), neck injury, and mandible injury. However, no new or material evidence was submitted within one year of notice of the final denial, making these claims still denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), to include headaches, is granted as the evidence supports that he experienced a head injury in Somalia during his active duty and has residual disabilities.

The Veteran's atrial fibrillation manifested with fewer than four episodes per year, and thus a disability rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted. The Board finds that the evidence does not support reopening his claim for service connection for chronic strain of the inner thighs or establishing service connection for heart disorders or TBI.