Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issues of ratings for radiculopathy and anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to traumatic brain injury, left and right lower extremity cold exposure, bilateral upper and lower extremity cold exposure, hand pain, shin splints, respiratory illness (barracks mold), and sinusitis have been denied. The Board has remanded the issues of left and right knee pain, skin disease, bilateral shin splints, and respiratory illness due to barracks mold for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for frostbite of the left toes, right toes, left hand, and right hand. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for frostbite with degenerative arthritis of both feet, finding that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Headaches, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his period of active duty service. Service connection is denied for Special Monthly Compensation based on need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for entitlement to a TDIU due to incomplete development, specifically the need for a vocational opinion assessing the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The appeal to reduce the disability rating from 70% to 40% for service-connected TBI has been dismissed due to a Board decision that found the appeal was procedurally defective and resolved by the February 3, 2026, decision.

The Veteran's disability rating for mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) was improperly reduced from 40 percent to 0 percent. The Board has restored the 40 percent rating effective February 1, 2018.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) as there is no evidence of a current disability, in-service incurrence or aggravation, or nexus to service. The Veteran's STRs do not reflect any head injuries or symptoms related to TBI.

The Veteran's TBI with PTSD is granted a rating of 70 percent, effective June 30, 2020. The Veteran is also granted TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TBI, migraine headaches, and left toe onychomycosis have been granted increased ratings. The TBI now receives a 10% rating, the migraines receive a 30% rating, and the onychomycosis receives a 10% rating.

The Veteran's TBI is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has remanded to determine if he should receive a higher rating. The issue of whether he qualifies for total disability due to service-connected disabilities prior to October 18, 2019, is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for persistent depressive disorder, with pure dysthymic syndrome, with anxious distress, late onset, mild (acquired psychiatric disorder) with TBI is denied. The claim for TDIU remains granted.

The Veteran's hypertension, migraine, and TBI with PTSD have been granted initial evaluations. The effective dates for service connection are June 21, 2022 (hypertension), June 26, 2022 (migraine and TBI), and the rating of 10 percent for hypertension is maintained.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased disability ratings were denied. The appeal for PTSD was withdrawn, asthma/shortness of breath was denied, chronic sinusitis was denied, and the Veteran's TBI-related conditions were also denied.

The Veteran is found to be precluded from securing and following substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, specifically bipolar disorder, TBI residuals, and joint issues. The Board granted the claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for migraines was denied, and his initial rating in excess of 10 percent for TBI was also denied.,The Veteran had service-connected migraines but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His TBI resulted in no more than level 1 impairment in any facet of cognitive impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD with residuals of a TBI was reduced from 70% to 50%, but the reduction was improper, and the rating is restored to 70%. The evidence did not show actual improvement in the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder, left parotidectomy residuals, head scar, OSA, back disorder, right knee disorder, and right ankle disorder have been granted service connection. The Veteran's TBI, jaw disorder, hearing loss, IBS, right elbow disorder, and left ankle disorder have not been granted service connection.