Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board has decided that further development is needed for the Veteran's claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED), as it may be related to his service-connected conditions. The case is being remanded for a medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's headaches associated with TBI are rated at a maximum of 50 percent, and his tinnitus is granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for TBI and remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and an increased rating for PTSD prior to August 11, 2019. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's residuals of traumatic brain injury and paroxysmal positional vertigo have been granted service connection.,Other issues, including those related to the left shoulder, right shoulder, right knee, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, respiratory disability, chronic fatigue, hemorrhoids (secondary to IBS), insomnia (secondary to PTSD), memory loss (secondary to PTSD), and PTSD ratings, are still pending.

The Board has determined that the VA examination report is internally inconsistent and requires additional medical evidence to determine if the Veteran has a TBI related to service.

The Veteran's service connection for residuals of head injury, to include a traumatic brain injury (TBI), is granted. The matter of an initial compensable disability rating for loss of teeth due to trauma is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle disability, TBI residuals, and sleep disturbance. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and her period of service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for further medical examinations and evaluations.

The Board has denied service connection for memory loss, developmental learning disability, erectile dysfunction, and traumatic brain injury due to a lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD and TBI symptoms have been rated at a combined 70 percent, effective from the entire appeal period. The rating is based on overlapping symptoms of both conditions.

The Board has restored the prior separate 10 percent rating for TBI, finding that the Veteran's memory impairment is due to his TBI and not his PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, left ankle recurrent sprain, TBI, and headaches were denied. The claim to reopen service connection for low back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right ankle disorder was also denied.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of various conditions, including hypertension, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, TBI, and tinnitus. The effective date for hypertension was set at April 12, 2017.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate addendum opinions. The Veteran's TBI and PTSD are being considered separately, and his sleep disorder is being evaluated as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including effective date determinations and rating decisions. The TDIU issue is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with other claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for stomach ulcers, low back disorder, mood disorder, TBI, and cognitive disorder due to TBI. The evidence did not establish a current diagnosis or link these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbosacral degenerative joint disease, tinnitus, right elbow degenerative joint disease, and others, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective August 13, 2021.

The Veteran's initial rating for TBI residuals prior to October 23, 2008 was denied. For the period on appeal from October 23, 2008 onwards, his ratings were also denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for TBI and PTSD with depression, but has remanded both issues due to insufficient rationale in the VA examination reports.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome has been granted.,Claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, hypothyroidism, hypertension, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.