Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2023

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has any current residuals of TBI and/or cognitive disorders, including memory loss. The examination should also assess whether these conditions are related to service or preexisted service.

The Board has determined that further examination and opinion are needed for the Veteran's right knee condition, degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, and traumatic brain injury. The claims are being remanded to allow for these evaluations.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, rating increases, and special monthly compensation due to his TBI and related conditions. The issues include secondary service connection for loss of sense of smell and taste, as well as cervical strain and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU for the appeal period prior to September 18, 2017.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are now rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating allowed under VA criteria.,PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent and does not warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder, secondary to his service-connected residuals of brain contusion/TBI and COPD is granted. The issues of entitlement to higher disability ratings for residuals of brain contusion/TBI and COPD, and the reduction in COPD rating are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to potential outstanding records and new evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the claims for mild traumatic brain injury, headaches, and fatigue.

The Veteran's mixed headaches and major depressive disorder associated with TBI are being remanded for further evaluation.,A new examination is required to assess the severity of the Veteran's conditions, including his TBI.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to incomplete medical records and the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable rating for TBI and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are being remanded due to inadequate development of the evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected headaches related to TBI from April 1, 2016 to September 18, 2017 is being remanded due to the need for a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of his headaches prior to September 19, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting opinions on whether the Veteran's TBI is related to service. The case will be reviewed with a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) as the accident was caused by willful misconduct, not due to alcohol abuse related to PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a TBI and headache disability are granted. However, his claim for a right eye disability is denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a TBI and remanded it for further development. The other issues on appeal are also being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder and residuals of TBI resulted in occupational and social impairment, but the Board has remanded to determine if a higher evaluation is warranted.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development due to missing service records and the need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's TBI, acquired psychiatric disorder, headache disability, prostate disability, gastrointestinal disability, cervical spine disability, right sacroiliac disability, left sacroiliac disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are all under review.

The Veteran's appeals for increased rating and service connection have been dismissed due to his authorized representative requesting withdrawal of the appeals.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his PTSD with TBI is remanded due to the need for a new examination to assess current severity.