Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder; heat stroke residuals; and TBI. The claim for a higher rating for dermatitis of the face was denied, as were claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied a disability rating greater than 70 percent for PTSD and TBI, as well as an initial disability rating greater than 30 percent for migraines.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher disability rating for seizure disorder and TBI with PTSD, as these conditions are already rated at 100 percent.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for dry eye syndrome but denied a higher rating and a greater than 30 percent rating for MDD, while remanding claims for migraines and residuals of TBI with central vertigo.

The Board denied service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, post traumatic pain cervical cervicothoracic regions, and residuals of traumatic brain injury. The initial ratings for various service-connected conditions were also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for revision of the October 2016 rating decision that awarded a 10 percent rating for traumatic brain injury on the basis of Clear and Unmistakable Error (CUE).

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection and ratings for various conditions, including left knee limitation of extension, left knee (subluxation/instability), left knee degenerative arthritis, cervical spine degenerative arthritis with spondylolisthesis, left upper cervical radiculopathy, and headaches associated with a traumatic brain injury.

The Board granted initial disability ratings of 30 percent for irritable bowel syndrome, 10 percent for chronic sinusitis, 50 percent for tension headaches, and 30 percent for left shoulder degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for traumatic brain injury and sinusitis, but granted the restoration of a 30 percent rating for allergic rhinitis with hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates effective February 1, 2025. The Board also remanded the claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches and remanded claims for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and an initial increased rating for traumatic brain injury with generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for head injury residuals and remanded it for further development. The claim for GERD was also remanded due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal seeking service connection for multiple conditions, including a speech disorder, cervical spine disorder, TBI, visual impairment, and vestibular disorder.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for all claims, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these matters.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for traumatic brain injury residuals and service connection for a right eye disability.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for TBI, sleep disturbances as secondary to PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, an initial compensable rating prior to February 27, 2024, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter for migraine headaches, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The claim for TDIU was remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied increased ratings for allergic rhinitis, sarcoidosis, and residual scars status post basal cell carcinoma. Service connection was granted for chronic sinusitis.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for higher initial ratings of adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety, depressed mood, and TBI, as well as migraine headaches.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for generalized anxiety disorder with TBI, as the Veteran's symptoms did not more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board denied an initial evaluation of over 30 percent for a TBI-acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.