Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the complexity of her conditions and their potential relationship to her active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for frostbite service connection is denied as the RO has already assigned the earliest possible effective date provided by law.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including VA examinations and a remand to the RO for issuance of an SOC regarding the increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's pituitary chromophobe adenoma with panhypopituitarism, sterility, headaches, and residuals of TBI with residual seizure are all rated at the maximum schedular evaluations. The Veteran does not meet criteria for a higher rating under any diagnostic codes.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for additional development, including providing VCAA notice and readjudicating the claim of reopening a service connection claim for residuals of frostbite of the feet.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, while significant, do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute substantially to his death. The Board found that pneumonia, which led to the Veteran's death, was not related to service.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated at 10% since May 16, 2005. The Veteran's tinnitus has not resulted in a higher rating under the applicable criteria. His cognitive disorder due to traumatic brain injury does not meet the criteria for a separate rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased rating for a scar, reopening of service connection claims for leg fracture and frostbite, and service connection for PTSD. The scars were found to be non-compensably disabling. The leg fracture and frostbite claims did not have new and material evidence received since the last final denial.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's head injury was caused by his own willful misconduct, and thus service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury is denied.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for frostbite residuals of both feet, the fingertips of both hands, and both ears has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for further examination regarding cold injury residuals of the upper and lower extremities, as well as a right knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of frostbite of the left foot was not supported by competent medical evidence and denied the claim.

The Board has ordered further development of the issues of entitlement to service connection for frostbite of the feet and residuals of cervical radiculopathy. The claim of service connection for tremors of the lower extremities is deferred until such time as a VA examination can be scheduled.

The Veteran was exposed to extreme cold during service and currently has cold injury residuals of the upper and lower extremities. The Board finds that these conditions are related to his in-service exposure, granting service connection for cold injury residuals to the upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from performing functions of self-care and may render him unable to protect himself from hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment. The examination is needed to determine if he requires assistance in bathing, tending to hygiene needs, and whether he is substantially confined to his dwelling.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his traumatic brain injury, finding that the current evaluations did not accurately reflect the severity of his condition.