Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Veteran's separate ratings for TBI and unspecified depressive disorder were improperly combined. The Board restored the 40 percent rating for TBI, effective January 1, 2023.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for PTSD and TBI, concluding that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, TBI-related tension headaches, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied service connection for TBI and a higher disability rating for PTSD.

The Board remanded all issues to obtain new medical opinions on the veteran's service connection claims.

The veteran's request for a higher rating for tinnitus was denied. The appeals for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and PTSD were remanded.

The appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded. The Board will reconsider the Veteran's claim after assigning initial ratings to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for major depressive disorder, TBI with dizziness, and migraine headaches.

The Board denied service connection for skin disability of the bilateral feet, right leg pain and numbness, right hand pain due to frostbite, and PTSD. The claims for a right shoulder disability, OSA, and respiratory disability were remanded for further development.

The veteran's appeal for a separate rating of 40% for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to mildly decreased motor activity was granted.

The veteran's initial rating for PTSD with TBI is granted at 70% but not higher.

The veteran's claims for service connection for apraxia and visual spatial deficit secondary to TBI were granted. The claim for auditory processing disorder was denied. An initial 70% rating for TBI was granted, but the claim for a compensable rating for headaches was denied.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, including psychiatric disabilities, TBI, sleep apnea, migraines, vertigo, hypertension, plantar fasciitis, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to establish a current disability or a causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, obstructive sleep apnea, and allergic rhinitis were denied. The claims for TBI and migraines were remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a TBI and OSA were denied. The claim for right arm carpal tunnel syndrome, effective dates for peripheral neuropathy, and reimbursement of medical expenses were remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for a cervical spine disorder was dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 100 percent disabled since July 27, 2014, for service-connected neurocognitive disorder associated with TBI is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a lack of VA examination and opinion regarding his service connection claims for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, arthritis, an enlarged heart, frostbite, prostate enlargement, kidney tumor, and high blood pressure. The Veteran contends that these conditions began during service or are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions but remanded others for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), an initial compensable disability rating for tension headaches, and an initial compensable disability rating for sacral teratoma residual scars were denied. The claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, right hip disability, groin condition, and neck disability were remanded.

The Board remanded the claims for higher initial ratings for PTSD, TBI, and migraines. The Veteran's VA treatment records need to be obtained.