Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral eye disorder, and residuals of traumatic brain injury due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence that was submitted after a previous SSOC, and no response from the Veteran. The cases will be reconsidered by the RO.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment for the periods from January 14, 2008 to December 9, 2009, and from July 1, 2010 to October 30, 2011.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as there is no current diagnosis of TBI in the medical records, and the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran incurred or aggravated a pre-existing condition during service.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar I disorder and cyclothymic disorder) alone supports a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disability, combined with other disabilities rated at least 60 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for TBI residuals, but denied the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for TBI. The case is remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for uterine fibroids, fibromyalgia, bilateral hip disability, bilateral hand and foot disabilities (frostbite), low back disability, bilateral knee disability, and headache disability have all been denied.,There is no current evidence of these conditions in the record.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his DDD of the thoracolumbar spine was denied. The appeals for service connection for sleep apnea and for a higher rating for TBI from August 10, 2012 to January 2, 2018 are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a Traumatic Brain Injury and to reopen his claim for service connection for Sleep Apnea have been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and TBI secondary to diabetes, as well as his SMC claim. The VA is instructed to obtain additional records and provide addendum opinions regarding the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied, and the initial disability rating for TBI residuals was granted at 40 percent. The Veteran's post-traumatic headaches were rated at 50 percent effective April 17, 2018. Other issues related to service connection or ratings remain pending.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for the right knee sprain prior to February 4, 2020 and a separate compensable disability rating for residuals of TBI from that date.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his TBI, headaches, and PTSD have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew all active claims from appellate status.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a lack of a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) and inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury residuals have been rated at level zero, which is the lowest possible rating. The claim for an earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits has been granted but not earlier than March 22, 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, finding that there is no current diagnosis and noting conflicting reports about the nature of his head injury. The Veteran was not granted secondary service connection as his claimed condition is related to his service-connected panic disorder with bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's TBI is rated at 40 percent, and his mood disorder secondary to the TBI is rated at 50 percent. Both conditions are granted.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent since September 29, 2010. The rating for TBI is also granted at 50 percent effective from the same date.

The Board denied service connection for TBI and its residuals, as well as right hip disorder, cervical spine disorder (neck disorder), and ulnar nerve disorder of the elbow. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or secondary to service-connected disabilities.