Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Veteran's headaches due to TBI are now rated at 30 percent disabling, effective from December 3, 2019. Prior to this date, the rating was non-compensable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his TBI is related to service. The current rating and effective date are not applicable as this decision only addresses the issue of reopening the claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The left knee strain, TBI residuals, PTSD with TBI, radiculopathy of bilateral lower extremities, and radiculopathy of bilateral upper extremities were not granted as service-connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating for TBI and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities, including TBI.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted a 40% rating prior to January 6, 2021. The other claims for TBI, headache disorder, and stressor related disorder are denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and medical opinions to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for TBI and lung disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for traumatic brain injury, heart disability (secondary to protein C blood disorder), neck disability, psychiatric disability, and sleep apnea. The appeals are pending further medical evaluation and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The effective date of service connection for residual scar status-post TBI is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI and migraines were granted service connection effective October 13, 2015. The Veteran was awarded a 50% rating for PTSD with TBI.,An increased rating of migraine headaches to more than 50% is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI is rated at 70 percent from September 16, 2015. The rating reflects significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection were denied.,No new or material evidence was submitted to reopen the claims of bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and gastrointestinal condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development on issues of service connection for psychiatric disability, cervical spine (neck) disability, right shoulder disability, and left ankle disability.,No effective date has been assigned as the claims are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of PTSD and TBI were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, but his TBI residuals were characterized as level 1 impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI residuals and a headache disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury. The Veteran's left knee disability is not related to service, nor caused by his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for the Veteran's back disability remains remanded due to insufficient opinion regarding its relationship to service. Service connection for erectile dysfunction is also remanded as there was no opinion addressing whether it was aggravated by his service-connected prostatitis.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability, left upper extremity neurological symptoms, right upper extremity neurological symptoms, residuals of a TBI (including vertigo and headaches), and finger disability. The claim for service connection for a finger disability is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD, back disability, and left ankle disability have been rated appropriately. However, the Board has found that additional development is needed for the increased rating of PTSD, the initial rating for chronic thoracic strain, and the increased rating for left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional medical opinions regarding service connection for neurological disability, as secondary to TBI disability. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for TBI disability is also remanded due to its interdependence with the service connection issue.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, but has remanded the issues of service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury and Latent Tuberculosis due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are rated based on their severity, with the maximum rating for tinnitus being 10 percent. The Board has remanded cases regarding Meniere's disease (secondary to tinnitus) and TBI (secondary to PTSD with major depression).

The Veteran's TBI and sleep apnea are not service-connected, but his migraine headaches have been restored to a 50% rating. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for TBI and sleep apnea.