Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to a challenge regarding the qualifications of the VA contract examiner who conducted the January 2017 TBI examination. Additional information about the examiner's qualifications is needed.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for traumatic brain injury prior to August 16, 2021 is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the April 2022 VA examination report. The examiner did not address whether the symptoms are TBI residuals or part of other conditions and there has been no substantial compliance with previous Board directives.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include frostbite, low back disability, asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI symptoms have been rated at 70 percent since August 9, 2021. The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding his entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a TBI and memory loss have been reopened, and the Board has determined that there is sufficient evidence to grant service connection for these conditions as they are related to an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is granted, and the claims to reopen service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability, left hand disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right ankle disability are also granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is granted as her current symptoms are related to an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding a current TBI diagnosis and failure to schedule an examination for the Veteran while incarcerated. The claim will be reconsidered after these issues are addressed.

The Veteran has withdrawn her claims of entitlement to service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Headaches.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation based on the severity of his TBI symptoms, which are currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of TBI have been granted a 10 percent rating for the entire appeal period, addressing memory, attention, concentration, and executive functions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service head injury that could be linked to his TBI.

The Veteran's TBI residuals are rated at 40 percent from January 17, 2015 to November 1, 2022. An initial higher rating is denied throughout the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition is granted as service-connected due to an in-service fall.,A 100 percent rating for unspecified schizophrenia with TBI and polysubstance abuse from May 9, 2011 is granted. The headaches associated with the condition are not separately rated.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he did not cooperate with the VA examinations and failed to provide medical records, resulting in a lack of sufficient evidence to decide his claims.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of TBI and remanded the issue of direct service connection for headaches due to a lack of medical evidence establishing a link between the Veteran's in-service injury and current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims for hernia, low back condition, TBI, right ankle disability, and right wrist disability due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to increased ratings for post-traumatic headaches and TBI-related cognitive impairment, as well as inextricably intertwined PTSD claims. The Veteran's appeal will be considered together with these issues.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cervical spine disability, thoracic spine disability, low back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, traumatic brain injury (TBI), headache disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and service.,The Board found that there was no credible evidence of an in-service injury or incident related to the claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for initial ratings for TBI and headaches, as well as a separate rating for migraine headaches. The RO must readjudicate these issues after considering the April 2019 VA examinations and addressing any potential hearing requests from the appellant.