Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to September 1, 2018 was denied as he did not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his TBI residuals was also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hiatal hernia, erosive duodenitis, right foot strain, and service connection for TBI.

The Veteran's TBI with headaches and vertigo are granted at a 40 percent rating, effective July 10, 2014. The left knee disorder is denied for an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for PTSD with TBI and MDD, as well as right ankle disability. The Veteran needs additional VA examinations to determine the current severity of his disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of Traumatic Brain Injury due to issues with the quality of the Veteran's service treatment records and a need for a TBI examination.

The appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA and private treatment records, schedule an examination for the acquired psychiatric disorder, and provide a medical opinion regarding any sleep disorder. The dependent benefits claim for FM, GM, and LMM will also be addressed.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected post-traumatic headaches, residual of traumatic brain injury is remanded due to the need for further examination and consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied. The cervical spine and thoracic spine disabilities as well as TBI residuals are remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for a traumatic brain injury and a compensable rating for a headache disability due to new evidence suggesting possible residuals from TBI and worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for residuals of frostbite and peripheral neuropathy have been granted, with the highest available rating (30%) being assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) for VA purposes and therefore, service connection for TBI is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and TBI have been dismissed.,PTSD was previously rated at 70% prior to February 11, 2020. Effective from that date, the rating has been increased to 100%.,A claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is moot as of February 11, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable, effective May 19, 2008. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70 percent rating, effective from July 20, 2017. The Veteran's TBI claim for an increased rating is denied. The issue of entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Veteran is granted a higher level of SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(p) based on his ischemic heart disease and other service-connected disabilities, but not for the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for traumatic brain injury (TBI) was denied, as the highest level of impairment found did not exceed a 10 percent disability rating.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including adjustment disorder, anxiety, and depression, was also denied an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent. The Board noted that his symptoms were primarily related to mental health issues rather than TBI.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for the Veteran's TBI, finding that his symptoms are not due to his service-connected condition and instead attributable to other disabilities such as PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's service connection for residuals of TBI and PTSD prior to April 1, 2016 is granted. The rating assigned for PTSD prior to April 1, 2016 is increased to 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending, as is his request for an initial compensable rating for a bilateral hearing loss disability.