Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's TBI residuals and muscle and joint pain. The claims will be further evaluated with additional medical examinations.

PTSD was granted a 70% rating prior to March 25, 2019 and denied any higher rating since then.,Headaches were granted a 30% rating prior to March 25, 2019 and denied any higher rating since then.,TBI residuals were granted a 10% rating prior to January 5, 2018 and denied any higher rating from that date forward.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's OSA, inguinal hernia disability, and TBI are related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's TBI with depressive disorder is granted a 70 percent rating from July 8, 2015. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date is denied. Posttraumatic headaches and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for TBI and conversion disorder, as well as service connection for seizures secondary to TBI. The Veteran's seizures are currently considered a symptom of his service-connected conversion disorder.

The Board has found that there are outstanding records and the Veteran should be afforded VA examinations for his service connection claims. The appeals are being remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected TBI is being reviewed for its impact on his ability to walk and use assistive devices, as well as any loss of use of both hands or the need for an ambulatory device. The case is remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder is rated at 30 percent, effective September 15, 2017. His post-traumatic headaches due to TBI are rated at 10 percent, also effective September 15, 2017. The residuals of his head injury (TBI) remain non-compensable.

The Veteran's PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia disorder, mild neurocognitive disorder, and traumatic brain injury are rated at 70 percent prior to February 26, 2021, and in excess of 70 percent thereafter. Headaches are rated at 50 percent.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on all five issues related to various injuries and conditions, including right knee disorder, left knee disorder, TBI residuals, headaches, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected psychiatric disability with traumatic brain injury (TBI) is being remanded due to the submission of new VA treatment records since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of TBI or residuals thereof, nor any other service-connected vision problems or left ear hearing loss.,Therefore, the claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they were caused by in-service noise exposure. The TBI is also service-connected as it was proximately due to the service-connected back disability.,Service connection for left knee and right knee disabilities is granted as these conditions are secondary to the service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated examinations and additional opinions regarding his service-connected conditions, including residuals of a right 5th metacarpal fracture, cervical strain, lumbar strain, TBI, tinnitus, and PTSD. The AOJ should ensure that these examinations are scheduled and completed.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, traumatic brain injury with cognitive/memory issues, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a cervical spine condition, radiculopathy of the upper extremities, and a lower back condition. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during or were related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his PTSD with TBI and consideration of a TDIU claim due to the potential impact on both issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury, and initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease with cervical strain. The evidence did not support current residuals of a TBI other than headaches, nor did it show functional impairment from these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records of inpatient treatment at Lackland Air Force Base Hospital and U.S. Naval Hospital on Camp Lester during service, which may be relevant to establishing service connection for TBI.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of increased disability ratings, service connection, and TDIU. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, resulting in a grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for regular aid and attendance.