Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for back disorder, bilateral foot disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, headache disorder, and traumatic brain injury due to new evidence received after previous decisions.

The Veteran's TBI is rated as noncompensable, with no impairment in any facet of cognitive impairment or other residuals.,The Veteran's asthma does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 6602.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues, including service connection for various conditions and rating claims. The Board has determined that further examination and/or medical opinions are needed to address these matters.

The Board has remanded the cases of increased ratings for GERD and TBI due to new evidence, including VA examinations in October and November 2023. The Veteran's representative requested information about the examiners who performed these exams, and a remand is needed to allow for this information to be provided.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected TBI with migraine headaches is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if he has any diagnosed psychiatric disorders and whether these are related to service. The examiner must also assess if there is overlap between the TBI residuals and his headache disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury and neurocognitive disorder with major depressive disorder, rendered him incapable of securing and following substantially gainful employment from February 22, 2023.

The Board has granted service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury and Acquired Psychiatric Disorder, finding that the conditions are at least as likely as not related to an in-service blast injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and tuberculosis has been denied. The Board found that there is no current evidence of TBI or tuberculosis, and thus cannot grant service connection.,For the adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, the Veteran was granted a 30 percent disability rating but his claim for an increased rating remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in obtaining adequate medical opinions.,All issues related to the Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, cervical spine condition, and traumatic brain injury will be addressed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, hemorrhoids, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as there was no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's asthma is being remanded due to an inadequate examination, and the service connection for TBI and stutter is also being remanded as there was no neurological examination addressing the claimed disability.,Further examinations are needed to determine if the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

Effective dates of October 26, 1978 have been granted for PTSD, TBI, cervical spine disability, right hip disabilities, and migraine headaches. Effective dates prior to February 14, 2011 have not been granted for loss of sense of smell, taste, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 100 percent for TBI with neurocognitive disorder, arachnoid cyst, and PTSD is dismissed. The claim for a compensable rating for the lumbar spine scar is also dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his claims for sleep apnea and alopecia. His claim for chronic sinusitis was granted with a 50% rating, which is the maximum available. The appeals for right foot metatarsalgia, erectile dysfunction, TBI, headaches (migraines), facial scarring of the left eyebrow, and sebaceous cyst removal scar were denied. The appeal for inguinal hernia and hypertension was also dismissed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a TBI, headache condition, epilepsy, syncope, and lower back condition due to lack of current disabilities.,Service connection must be denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities for which service connection can be granted.

The Veteran's PTSD and TBI symptoms are manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment due to lack of anatomical loss or permanent loss of use of a hand or foot.

The Veteran's TBI and PTSD were rated at 70 percent effective March 5, 2019. Migraine headaches were also rated at 30 percent effective the same date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of TBI are secondary to her service-connected knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.