Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial evaluations of TBI and associated posttraumatic headaches due to worsening symptoms reported at his hearings. The Veteran needs new VA examinations to assess current severity.

The Board has remanded the claims of a rating in excess of 10 percent for traumatic brain injury (TBI), service connection for right upper extremity nerve damage, left arm numbness, and left leg tingling due to additional evidence being needed.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of sufficient medical evidence to determine their etiology. The Veteran reported injuries in service that may have contributed to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased initial ratings for Traumatic Brain Injury and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional VA clinical records, particularly from May 2019, and because the issues have not been readjudicated following the addition of new evidence.

The Veteran's initial ratings for TBI and associated headaches are being remanded due to the need for further examination regarding memory impairment.

The Veteran's TBI residuals have been rated at a 10 percent level, reflecting no more than Level 1 impairment in cognitive areas such as memory and attention. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of traumatic brain injury and migraine headaches are being remanded due to the need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's TBI rating was reduced from 10 percent to noncompensable effective September 30, 2016. The reduction is being restored as the evidence does not show an improvement in his ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and major depressive disorder have been reopened. The right hand disability and right knee disability claims are still pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a secondary opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected traumatic brain injury residuals and/or tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral flat feet, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and sleep apnea due to incomplete records. The Veteran needs to provide VA with all treatment records from VA facilities where he was treated during the appellate period.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury as there is no current residual and the Veteran's histories pertaining to the TBI are not credible.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to traumatic brain injury, thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint disease, migraine headaches, and left eyebrow scar is granted. The claims for right arm condition, left arm condition, diabetes mellitus, bilateral foot condition, sleep condition, neck condition, and prostate cancer are denied.

The Veteran's TBI disability is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from performing the duties of his current employment as a Constituent Services Liaison with Congressman Aguilar’s office. The Board finds that further education is not warranted due to the Veteran's already suitable educational level and because pursuing additional degrees would not help overcome his 100% rating for PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) as there is no current diagnosis of TBI or its residuals, and the evidence does not support a finding that he incurred a head injury during service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for TBI with posttraumatic headache prior to January 22, 2018 was denied. From January 22, 2018 onwards, the Veteran's claim for a higher rating of 40 percent or more was also denied.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Board also remanded the issue of whether residuals of traumatic brain injury are related to in-service injury, event, or disease; or whether they are at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated beyond the natural progression by any service-connected disability.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of traumatic brain injury and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and GMC, are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The case will be reviewed again with additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury in addition to headaches, tinnitus, and hearing loss is denied. The Veteran's PTSD has been granted with a 50% rating.,Service connection for low blood pressure is denied.