Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's TBI and gait coordination balance with dizziness and vertigo have been granted a disability rating, but the claim for higher ratings is denied. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss has also been denied.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating is dismissed as moot due to the assignment of a 100% rating for PTSD and SMC benefits. The Board also remanded the issue of a rating in excess of 40 percent for TBI disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for TBI and a TDIU is remanded due to inadequate examinations. The VA will schedule new examinations to determine the nature and severity of the Veteran's TBI and TBI residuals, including whether erectile dysfunction is proximately due or aggravated by TBI.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, IBS, left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, and residuals of a neck injury are all denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD is remanded due to the absence of a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI residuals preexisted his service and were not aggravated by it, thus denying service connection for these residuals.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's claimed residuals of TBI, specifically related to a 1977 motorcycle accident. The examiner should address whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran has any residuals from a TBI that had their onset in or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI), an acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, and tinnitus. The TBI claim was denied as the Veteran's preexisting condition did not worsen during service.,Service connection for PTSD and major depression were also denied due to lack of evidence showing these conditions are related to service.

Entitlement to a TDIU for the period prior to June 22, 2021 is denied due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities not preventing him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.,Entitlement to a TDIU for a single service-connected disability other than TBI, from June 22, 2021, for purposes of SMC pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is denied as the Veteran does not have an additional service-connected disability independently ratable at 60 percent or more.

The Veteran's bilateral-hand, residuals of frostbite, was granted an initial 20 percent rating from July 18, 2013 to November 14, 2021. A 30 percent rating is granted effective November 15, 2021.,The Veteran's bilateral-foot, residuals of frostbite, was granted an initial 20 percent rating from July 18, 2013 to November 14, 2021. A 30 percent rating is granted effective November 15, 2021.

The Veteran's TBI is granted a 10% disability rating, effective prior to March 15, 2017. The acquired psychiatric disorder is granted a 70% disability rating for the entire period on appeal prior to August 22, 2022, and denied any higher rating from that date onwards.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury, finding no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board denied her claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he is currently employed full-time and has a consistent work history, with no evidence of substantial impairment in his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's TBI claim, including consideration of all relevant in-service and post-service medical records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, which is claimed as secondary to service-connected TBI and PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for Traumatic Brain Injury was dismissed because the Veteran withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is granted as the Board finds that his current TBI is etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent disabling from September 1, 2016 through June 15, 2021, and from August 1, 2021 to August 23, 2021. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his TBI, headaches, and adjustment disorder.