Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for trigeminal nerve neuralgia due to the Veteran's service-connected frostbite of the ears, and increased the rating for right ankle degenerative joint disease from 10 percent to 20 percent. The claims for an increased rating for right ear frostbite and a separate rating for left ear frostbite residuals were denied.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed as the Board Appeal request was not timely filed and no good cause was shown.

The Board granted a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD, NCD, and TBI prior to May 4, 2023, and restored the 10 percent rating for GERD effective June 8, 2023.

The Board granted service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for urinary frequency. The other claims were remanded.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and residuals of traumatic brain injury was dismissed due to an improper opt-in to the Appeals Modernization Act. Service connection for insomnia was denied as it is not a separate disability but a symptom of the Veteran's already service-connected psychiatric condition.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and a TBI, but denied the claim for PTSD as moot. The claims for service connection for a neck condition and back condition were remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is granted an evaluation of 70 percent disabling, but no higher. Other claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied or remanded.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for TBI residuals and a 20 percent rating for right ankle ligament laxity, while denying an increased rating for right ankle instability.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical strain, esophagus stricture, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and migraine headaches due to untimely notice of disagreement. The appeal for B-cell lymphoma was remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including tinnitus, traumatic brain injury, post-concussion migraines, peripheral vestibular disorder, insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome thoracolumbar spine, lumbar right side sciatic nerve radiculopathy, lumbar left side sciatic nerve radiculopathy, cervical strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, and cervical right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted restoration of the PTSD and TBI with peripheral vestibular disorder rating from 50 percent to 70 percent effective April 1, 2025.

The Board granted service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) based on the evidence being at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's TBI was incurred during his military service.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance, effective December 8, 2025.

The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance from July 28, 2023, through September 21, 2024.

The Board denied service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis, left ankle achilles tendinopathy, post-traumatic (concussion) headaches, and TBI. The appeal for an earlier effective date was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right wrist pain, left wrist pain, right knee pain, left knee pain, and a traumatic brain injury as the evidence did not support that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied service connection for mycobacterium tuberculosis, latent pulmonary tuberculosis infection, insomnia, and a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for all service connection and rating claims, resulting in the dismissal of each claim.

The Board granted the Veteran's petitions to readjudicate claims for service connection for degenerative changes and disc space narrowing, C4/C5, C5/C6 and C6/7 neck injury and a traumatic brain injury based on new and relevant evidence. The claims for a cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and bilateral radiculopathy with sciatica were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for TBI, vertigo, left ear hearing loss, sinusitis, and a gastrointestinal disorder. The claims for right ear hearing loss and left knee strain were denied. Service connection was also granted for adjustment disorder with an initial rating of 70 percent, but no higher, and for headaches with an initial rating of 30 percent, but no higher.