Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, residuals of frostbite, a back condition, and a left knee condition. The veteran's stomach condition was not found to be proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The claim for an increased rating for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is denied.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's residuals of frostbite of the left foot, finding that these residuals meet the criteria for such a rating based on complaints of pain, numbness, and cold sensitivity, as well as nail abnormalities and some locally impaired sensation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's frostbite of both feet and Raynaud's phenomenon warrant a 30 percent evaluation from October 19, 1995 to January 11, 1998. After this date, the veteran is entitled to a 40 percent evaluation for his disability.

The Board found no evidence of frostbite during service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for an earlier effective date, so the case is dismissed.

The veteran is seeking an effective date earlier than January 12, 1998 for a grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his bilateral hand disabilities. The RO has not yet developed this issue and the Board finds it must be remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeal because a timely substantive appeal was not filed for the issue of service connection for hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to changes in the law and the need for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 20, 2000 for the assignment of a 50 percent disability rating for the residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left hip and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since July 20, 2000.

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes is denied as the effective date cannot be earlier than October 30, 1998 due to lack of timely filing.

The veteran's spouse was awarded additional compensation benefits for the veteran, effective May 1, 1998. The Board granted an earlier effective date of May 1, 1997.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a member of the Board at the local Regional Office in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of frostbite of the feet due to new and material evidence. The issue of entitlement to service connection for defective hearing remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for nicotine dependence, shell fragment wounds of the legs (other than residuals of the left calf), residuals of dysentery, and residuals of frostbite as there is no medical evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and peripheral neuropathy, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied increased ratings for the service-connected frostbite residuals of both feet prior to January 12, 1998 and separately for each foot on or after that date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a foot disability and left arm disability, including residuals of frostbite of the hand and fingers. The veteran's current foot disabilities were not present during her active military service or for many years after her separation from service and did not have their origin during service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of frostbite, including an associated dental condition was denied as not well grounded due to the lack of evidence in his service medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a cold injury (frostbite), hypertension, a heart disability, hearing loss, tinnitus, a psychiatric disability including PTSD and a circulatory disability. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during military service.

The veteran's depression is granted service connection, but his tinea pedis and frostbite claims are denied.