Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board found no evidence of a service-connected frostbite or cold injury, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a supplemental opinion regarding whether his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, independent of other conditions not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frostbite and diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence to support these claims. The veteran's current disabilities are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of frostbite injuries to the veteran's feet during service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any current foot disabilities are related to such in-service injury. As a result, service connection for residuals of frostbite of both feet is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any residuals of a head injury, left clavicle fracture, frostbite of hands and feet, right or left little finger injury, and back pain/spine condition. The veteran's medical records from Dr. J. A. Nilsen should also be obtained.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for frostbite of the feet and his claim for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder. The denial is based on lack of evidence showing such conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability for any of the conditions and concluded that service connection was not warranted.

The Board found that the veteran's currently diagnosed psychiatric disorders are not related to events in service and denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left long thoracic nerve neurapraxia, low back disorder, neurological condition with headaches, dizziness and light-headedness, shortening of the left lower extremity, first degree AV block, respiratory disorder, hearing loss, skin condition of the hands and feet (claimed as a foot disorder due to frostbite), facial lacerations, nasal fracture, teeth numbers 8 and 9 for VA dental treatment, and jaw disability. The claims were found not to have been incurred in service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to provide VCAA notice and for a new compensation examination.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate is being remanded due to incomplete medical records, a lack of determination regarding his need for regular aid and assistance, and an incomplete examination report.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for a local hearing and consideration of new evidence, as the veteran requested one.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO. The issues of service connection for PTSD, low back disorder, and residuals of frostbite are still under consideration.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current, chronic disability of residuals of frostbite and numbness incurred in or aggravated by active duty. The claim is denied.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for frostbite residuals of the right hand, nose, forehead and left ear was denied. The RO found that the current evaluations adequately reflected the severity of his disability.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current residuals of frostbite of the feet, hypertension was diagnosed during service and is not related to service, hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown by current medical evidence, and PTSD was not diagnosed. The claim for PTSD will be remanded due to lack of verification of stressor events.

The Board found no evidence of cold weather injury to the lower extremities during service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has granted initial ratings for service-connected residuals of frostbite of the feet and hands, with a rating of 10 percent each beginning January 12, 1998 to March 30, 1999; and 20 percent each beginning March 31, 1999. The initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy associated with service-connected frostbite are also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of an opinion regarding whether the veteran's current osteoarthritis of the hands is related to service, specifically cold injury during his time in Korea.

The Board found that the veteran's frostbite of the hands and feet warranted separate 10 percent ratings prior to January 12, 1998. The veteran was granted a rating of 30 percent for cold injury of the left upper extremity and right upper extremity as of January 12, 1998.