Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the appellant and a missed VA examination. The claims for tinnitus and frostbite residuals will be reviewed again with consideration of this additional information.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any current disabilities related to his military service, including back injury residuals, hand disorders, knee disorders, frostbite residuals, or hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a cervical spine disability with bilateral radiculopathy of the upper extremities and traumatic brain injury, both claimed as secondary to a motor vehicle accident in service. The case has been remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of TBI and thus service connection for TBI cannot be established.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD, residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right elbow, and traumatic brain injury have been withdrawn. The Board finds that his current rating for right sural nerve neuropathy is appropriate at 10 percent.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a cognitive disorder due to TBI and as secondary to his service-connected disability. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with an opinion regarding whether his cognitive disorder is related to service or aggravated by his PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a traumatic brain injury, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted prior to June 17, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate his service-connected disabilities. The issues of increased ratings for low back pain, left knee sprain, and traumatic brain injury are also being addressed.

The Veteran does not have any residual disability from his alleged frostbite in service, nor is there any competent medical evidence that any claimed disability of the feet and legs, including tendonitis, is related to service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and frostbite of the hands and feet were denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability has been granted, but his claims for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (migraine headaches) and allergic rhinitis have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for left knee patellofemoral syndrome, costochondritis, and right foot hallux valgus was denied. The RO increased the rating to 30 percent for PTSD but only effective from March 26, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a traumatic brain injury are incurred in service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with the lumbar spine disability receiving a 10% rating and the bilateral hearing loss maintaining its current non-compensable evaluation. The frostbite of the left foot was rated at 20% effective August 1, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. However, there is insufficient evidence to support a finding of frostbite of the feet due to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied by operation of law as he does not meet the criteria for a current disability. The claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, traumatic brain injury, and vision disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a TBI, ataxia (claimed as vertigo), and headaches. Service connection was denied for back disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of bilateral knee disorder, bilateral leg disorder, and fainting have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal regarding these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including TBI and PTSD, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. His TDIU rating is granted.

The Veteran is granted service connection for PTSD, a left knee disorder, and residuals of frostbite (congelatio) of the fingers. The Board finds that these conditions are related to his military service.