Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and residuals of TBI due to incomplete medical records and insufficient opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's TBI resulted in cognitive, emotional/behavioral, and physical symptoms that were considered within normal limits prior to February 23, 2021. After this date, the Veteran experienced moderately impaired judgment, visual spatial orientation, and neurobehavioral symptoms warranting a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and the appeal was not valid as it did not follow the proper procedures for legacy system appeals.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected bipolar disorder is being remanded due to conflicting diagnoses and the need for a new examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, right leg disorder, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) have been denied.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of TBI, memory loss, concentration problems, and behavioral changes; also claimed as skull fracture, has been reopened and granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of in-service hospital records and the need for further examination regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at a maximum of 50 percent from January 17, 2017 and his TDIU is granted effective the same date.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of tendonitis. The Veteran's claims for gastroenteritis, TBI, acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension, and headache disability are all remanded due to insufficient evidence or further clarification is needed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's TBI disability, including whether it had its onset during active service or is related to his military service.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the issues on appeal, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate the Veteran's spine disability and address service connection claims.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD is granted a rating of 70 percent, but no higher, prior to January 27, 2021. The Veteran's TBI is denied as not warranting a compensable rating prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's statements regarding an in-service head injury and the need for further investigation into whether such an event occurred. The Veteran is also required to be examined if evidence corroborating the in-service event is obtained.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a 100% rating as of December 18, 2017. Headaches are also granted and linked to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for the TBI residual of vertigo and denied service connection for an eye disability. The Veteran's current vertigo is related to his in-service TBI, while his left eye choroidal nevi are not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to reassess the severity of his PTSD and TBI, as well as any sleep impairment or memory loss due to PTSD. The current combined rating of 30 percent for PTSD with TBI remains in place.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a separate evaluation for TBI from PTSD, finding that symptoms of both conditions cannot be differentiated.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to specific dates are being remanded due to procedural issues and lack of formal or informal claims.

The Board has vacated the denial of special monthly compensation by reason of being housebound or based on the need of regular aid and attendance, as the Veteran meets the schedular requirements for SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.