Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior remand directives, including obtaining a VA examination and completing a TDIU application.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including tinnitus, left knee replacement, bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury (TBI), back condition with radiculopathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeals are not about service connection at all.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and new evidence, including MRI results and neuropsychological evaluations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error regarding an addendum medical opinion on whether the Veteran's TBI is related to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death based on new and relevant evidence. However, the claim remains denied as there is no medical evidence showing that any service-connected disability contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a left little finger disability and granted it. The claims for TBI, right and left knee disabilities, right hip disability, and left hip disability are denied.,Service connection is not established for rhabdomyolysis.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of an injury to the left shoulder and residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the issuance of a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) to address all issues on appeal, including initial compensable evaluation for service-connected headaches and service connection for PTSD and TBI residuals.

The Veteran's TBI and headaches have been granted service connection, with the Board finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to her military service, including a head injury due to MST.,Service connection for a cut on the back of the head has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been denied. The Board found that there was no in-service stressor and the current disability is not related to service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for Posttraumatic Headaches, Neuropsychiatric Disorder (with headaches), Anxiety, Residuals of TBI with Memory Loss, Right Eye Condition, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Post Traumatic Headaches with Dizzy Spells/Syncope (claimed as Migraines and Vertigo), Keloid Scars, and Tinnitus have been reopened. However, the claims for service connection for these conditions remain pending.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Posttraumatic Headaches due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), as well as service connection for right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities. The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and hypertension are also being remanded.

The Board has found errors in the duty-to-assist process and has ordered a new examination for both right shoulder injury and traumatic brain injury claims.

The Veteran's initial rating for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is denied as the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating have not been met. The TBI symptoms overlap with those of his co-morbid Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and he currently receives a 70 percent rating for PTSD based on overlapping symptoms.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and failure to comply with prior remands. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if his TBI is related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of TBI, finding that there were no remaining chronic residual symptoms related to the TBI and not already being compensated by his existing PTSD diagnosis.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, but these claims are still being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a variety of conditions including back, knee, ankle, and brain injury issues. The VA will need to provide additional medical opinions to address the relationship between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 16, 2016 for the award of SMC at the (t) rate due to the Veteran's need for aid and attendance based on his service-connected TBI residuals. The decision is binding only with respect to this specific matter.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment due to multiple conditions including dermatophytosis, post-traumatic headaches, painful scar, traumatic brain injury, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, and instability of the left knee.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of certain symptoms and treatment records, as well as the need for a reevaluation of the Veteran's PTSD with TBI residuals.