Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected TBI, bilateral knees, left metatarsal avulsion residuals, left wrist condition, and migraines are being remanded for further evaluation due to the potential worsening of these conditions.,The Veteran's rib/sternum condition, left ankle condition, bilateral shoulder conditions, insomnia, and kidney condition (claimed as rhabdomyolysis) are also being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, migraine headaches, TBI residuals, and tinnitus result in functional limitations that make it impossible for him to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a lack of response from him regarding additional evidence, and requests that any new evidence be submitted. The appeal is also being remanded for obtaining outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for migraines was denied, and the claim for an increased rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder, opioid use disorder, and TBI is remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to non-compliance with prior directives, including obtaining specific dates of active duty and inactive duty training (ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA), a line of duty report for an incident in August 1983, and medical records from an ER visit on August 18, 1983. The claims are now pending again.

The Veteran's PTSD and TBI with secondary mild ataxia and subjective tinnitus are rated at 70 percent, effective from April 1, 2016. The Veteran is also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability for the appeal period prior to January 8, 2019.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and traumatic brain injury have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew these issues at his April 2023 Board hearing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for TBI, posttraumatic headaches, and right elbow laceration with scar due to insufficient evidence of current severity and need for separate ratings.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury and bilateral foot disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The VA will obtain medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of a back injury was reopened and granted. Claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and traumatic brain injury were denied.

The Board denied service connection for TBI, lumbosacral spine disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disability. The Veteran's claims were not granted as the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities related to active service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for TBI and TDIU due to worsening symptoms since his last VA examinations, and a new examination is needed with an appropriate medical professional who has completed the DEMO (CPEP) TBI training module. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are expected to impact his employment.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not currently granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and is remanded. The claims for hypertension, migraine headaches, drug and alcohol abuse disorder, sinusitis, and head injury/TBI are also remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD and TBI symptoms are rated at a combined 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The rating is granted for PTSD with TBI.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue, TBI, and PTSD with major depressive disorder prior to September 26, 2017 were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of these conditions or their relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury and related headaches, finding that there are no current residuals of a service-connected TBI.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury and Headaches, which were previously remanded by the Board.

The Veteran's TBI with bipolar disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to overlapping symptoms and does not meet criteria for a total disability rating.