Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to jurisdictional issues and will need to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC) for the Veteran to perfect his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on housebound status has been withdrawn. The Board also remanded the cases of PTSD with traumatic brain injury and Meniere's disease, requesting new VA examinations to assess current severity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the separation of symptoms between PTSD and TBI, as well as the frequency and severity of his migraine headaches.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an increased disability rating for TBI, earlier effective date for SMC based on aid and attendance (SMC(l)), and SMC based on aid and attendance (SMC(t)). The VA must obtain any outstanding treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial increased rating in excess of 40 percent for TBI and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional medical opinions regarding his tinnitus, traumatic brain injury, and related conditions. The claims are also remanded to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a retrospective medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's TBI prior to July 2, 2021. The claim for impairment of the seventh cranial nerve under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or loss of use of a hand or foot, permanent vision impairment of both eyes, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ankylosis of a knee or hip. Therefore, the Veteran is not eligible for financial assistance for an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates of a temporary total rating and special monthly compensation based on housebound status, as both decisions were final.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD related to military sexual assault reasonably encompassed claims for TBI and Migraine Headaches. The effective date of September 24, 2007, is granted for the grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is dismissed, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence to determine if the Veteran's TBI and Neurocognitive Disorder are related to his military service, specifically a reported MST incident. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided that the VA examination is inadequate and requires a new one to determine if the Veteran suffered a TBI in service and its relationship to current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various conditions including TBI, shoulder disability, arm disability, low back disability, and psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence or conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and remanded the issues of entitlement to a higher rating for acquired respiratory conditions, including COPD, emphysema with pleural plaques, bronchiolitis, and asbestosis, and entitlement to a separate compensable rating for pleural plaques. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, sinus disorder, and traumatic brain injury. The decision does not address the secondary service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD and acne has been dismissed.,Service connection for TBI is granted, but the claim for hypertension secondary to service-connected PTSD or sleep apnea remains pending.

The Board has dismissed all appeals for service connection of various injuries and conditions as the appellant died during the pendency of these appeals.

The Veteran's PTSD and TBI with residuals are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings due to lack of evidence supporting more severe impairment.

The Board's decision to dismiss the service connection claims was vacated due to a pending substitution claim by the appellant.