Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding that the earliest possible effective date was September 9, 2022.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for special monthly compensation at a higher rate and an earlier effective date for service connection for traumatic brain injury with depressive disorder to include alcohol use disorder, mild early remission.

The Board remands the claims for further development and evidence collection, including obtaining records from a civilian orthopedist and Tamarack Health Hayward Medical Center, as well as scheduling examinations to address Meniere's Disease and dysautonomia.

The Board denied service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, left and right ankle conditions, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Board granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and meniscal tear residuals, but remanded the claims for a recurrent sleep disability to include obstructive sleep apnea and a compensable rating for TBI residuals.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection of headaches, generalized anxiety disorder, and bilateral foot exposure to excessive natural cold, but denied an earlier effective date for tinnitus. The Board also denied increased ratings for several conditions including tinnitus.

The Board remands the claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, due to a duty to assist error.

All appeals for higher initial ratings and service connection were dismissed as they were duplicative of previously addressed appeals or due to untimely filings.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of June 4, 2015 for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including a lumbar spine disorder and various peripheral neuropathies, as the probative evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board remands the claims for a TBI and Meniere's Disease to correct duty to assist errors, as the AOJ did not examine the Veteran despite evidence of potential in-service events and current disability.

The Board granted the restoration of a 30 percent rating for migraine including migraine variants, residual of traumatic brain injury effective May 7, 2024, as the reduction was improper.

The Board remands the claims for an initial compensable rating for TBI residuals and an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent prior to March 3, 2017, for service-connected headaches due to additional medical evidence and Court directives.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a lumbar spine disability, right and left knee disabilities, hypertension, residuals of frostbite of both hands, and a right shoulder disability, for additional development.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a TBI to provide the Veteran with an additional opportunity to attend a VA examination.

The Veteran is granted separate awards of special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (l) rate based on the need for aid and attendance due to service-connected PTSD and residuals of TBI, as well as SMC at the (o) and (r)(2) rates from November 7, 1991.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for head injury/TBI residuals, but not greater.

The Board denied an increased rating for TBI and headaches, but granted total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's TBI effective March 6, 2019.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (other than PTSD), to include adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, as secondary to service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spine, thoracic spine, TBI, and dyspnea to schedule VA examinations.