Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for TBI was denied, and the claim for service connection for hypertension was also denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service or exposure in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is also being remanded as it is intertwined with other issues on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to the Veteran's in-service injury during basic training, finding that his current symptoms are related to this in-service injury and not pre-existing.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI warrants an initial disability rating of 70 percent prior to August 1, 2023, and a subsequent 70 percent rating thereafter.

The Veteran's service connection claims for Traumatic Brain Injury, Headaches, and Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (to include Depression and PTSD) have been dismissed. Service connection for Polysubstance Abuse / Dependence (alcohol and cannabis), secondary to his service-connected PTSD with depression, has been granted.

The Veteran's eye disorder and residuals of TBI are not service-connected.,For the remaining issues, the Board found no evidence to support a higher rating or any other type of compensation.

The Board has denied the claim for a compensable rating for service-connected TBI from July 29, 2014 to December 17, 2018, finding that there were no compensable symptoms related to the Veteran's TBI.

The Veteran's claims for neck disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, TBI residuals, and memory loss are all denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that would support these claims.,There is no diagnosed neck disorder. The Veteran did not seek treatment during service due to his duties and post-service records do not show any current diagnosis.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder with TBI from September 17, 2014 to August 1, 2023 is granted.,Prior to this period, the Veteran was not entitled to a TDIU.