Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2026

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a frostbite condition, right wrist condition, and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB). The claim for an initial compensable rating for tinnitus is also denied.,Service connection was not granted for the right ankle condition due to the evidence being in equipoise.

The Veteran's TBI residuals require regular aid and attendance, necessitating SMC(t) based on the need for institutional care.

The Board has remanded the cases for a separate rating of TBI and BPPV due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are subsumed in each other or should be rated separately.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI was found to not warrant a higher than 70 percent rating due to the inability to demonstrate total social and occupational impairment.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for TDIU based on depression alone and SMC, as his MFR was denied by the Board.

The Veteran's claims for left knee strain, right knee injury, cervical strain with degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral strain to include degenerative disc disease and IVDS, right lower extremity radiculopathy, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and tension headaches have been granted effective October 9, 2023.,The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date were denied as the appropriate effective date is October 9, 2023.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability and TBI are remanded due to missed examinations. The Board finds a pre-decisional duty to assist error in the development of his claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, as he is unable to dress, undress, feed himself, manage his medications, cook, clean, or drive due to his conditions. The Board granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and TBI are currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that an increased rating is not warranted.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) and § 1114(t) for the periods specified, based on his need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for TBI, migraine headaches, and memory loss due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's contentions of in-service head injuries.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for traumatic brain injury (TBI) as there is not an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence that he has residual symptoms attributable to his service-connected TBI.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating greater than 40 percent for TBI, service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including plantar fasciitis, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety, depression, and polysubstance abuse disorder. The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury due to the lack of credible evidence supporting a current disability related to active service.,Service connection was granted for headaches, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran's claim based on continuity of symptomatology since service.,The claim for service connection for a sleep disorder (previously claimed as chronic fatigue) is denied due to failure to report for a VA examination without good cause.

The Veteran's appeal for a separate rating for persistent depressive disorder and TBI back to the original date of claim is dismissed due to an error in docketing.

The Board has granted service connection for traumatic brain injury and temporomandibular joint disorder, finding that these conditions are etiologically related to the Veteran's in-service injuries.

The Board has denied the Veteran's appeals for service connection for anxiety, anger management (diagnosed as major depressive disorder), fatty liver, traumatic brain injury, and bilateral hand dupuytren's contracture due to untimely filing of appeal requests.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for PTSD with TBI, GERD, hypertension, and residuals of a stroke as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals because the appeal requests were not timely filed, and good cause was not shown for the late filing.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is granted as the evidence supports that his current TBI residuals are related to injuries sustained during active duty.