Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran incurred a traumatic brain injury with concentration and attention difficulties during active service, but found no evidence to support seizure activity, fainting, or syncope. Service connection for these conditions is granted for the former, but denied for the latter.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and to obtain relevant Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a TBI is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has current residuals of a TBI sustained during service and resolves all doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a traumatic brain injury is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of right ankle sprains are not granted.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current residuals of a TBI with memory loss and no medical evidence relating any such condition to active service. Therefore, the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a TBI with memory loss is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were adjudicated. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his claims of residuals of right fibula fracture and TDIU, and granted a rating of 70 percent for PTSD effective March 9, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and reopening of a duodenal ulcer claim are inextricably intertwined with his TBI claim. The case is therefore being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence, arrange for an examination, and readjudicate the claims.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of frostbite and arthritis of the knees, arms, hips, and elbows as these conditions are not considered to be directly related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records, conduct examinations, and determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for residuals of frostbite to feet was denied in the April 2007 rating decision. The RO is instructed to provide Kent notice based on the June 1976 final decision and seek Social Security Administration records.

The Board finds that the effective date for the grant of service connection for residuals of a brain injury should be November 19, 2004, not prior to this date.

The Board has granted service connection for a cognitive disorder as one of the residuals of TBI sustained in service. The Veteran's TBI is related to an accidental explosion during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of traumatic brain injury and for an effective date prior to January 21, 2009, for the grant of service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury were both found not merited. The issue regarding clear and unmistakable error in a May 2004 rating decision that denied service connection for PTSD was referred to the RO.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not sustain a traumatic brain injury during service and that his current headaches are less likely related to service. As such, service connection for both conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to determine if his current symptoms are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for residuals of a head injury, including laceration scar to the head and headaches/dizziness, has been granted. The maximum schedular rating of 50% is assigned since March 11, 2002.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, tension headaches status post traumatic brain injury, gastrointestinal disability (GERD), and left wrist disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral vascular disease, which is secondary to his service-connected frostbite residuals, was granted with an effective date of December 30, 1997, the date he filed his informal claim.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his TBI residuals is being remanded due to inadequate examination and the need to address symptoms potentially attributable to other disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and traumatic brain injury contributed substantially or materially to his death, which occurred due to a motorcycle accident. The decision grants entitlement to service connection for the cause of death.