Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, but no higher. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service records are unavailable due to a fire at the National Personnel Records Center. The Board is remanding the claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to a lack of VA examinations and incomplete records. The appellant's service connection claims for back disorder and traumatic brain injury are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inconsistencies in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's TBI. The PTSD with alcohol use disorder is rated at 30 percent, but the Veteran is seeking a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was denied as she did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD or other acquired psychiatric disorder.,Service connection for deafness/nerve disability was also denied due to lack of current hearing loss disability recognized by VA standards.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 70 percent rating for TBI with cognitive disorder from May 21, 2015 is granted. Other claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings was denied as his TBI residuals did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to January 25, 2018 and did not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent thereafter. His headache condition also did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection for headaches, right knee disability, and TBI have been granted. The effective date for the left knee disability has not been determined due to a remand request. A total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted based on his service-connected disabilities. Right knee and vertigo issues require further examination as they may be related to other conditions or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for disability manifested by numbness of the hands and memory loss as a residual of TBI, finding that there is at least an equal balance of evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational experience.

The Veteran's TBI and head scar are remanded for a VA examination to determine their relationship to service-connected PTSD. The claims will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity warrants a 40 percent rating, but no higher. The remaining issues have been remanded for further examination and evaluation.

The appeal for a higher rating for traumatic brain injury residuals is dismissed. The claim for a higher rating for tinnitus remains denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has been in effect.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for TBI and dental condition. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the initial disability rating for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) prior to April 13, 2016, and in excess of 70 percent thereafter. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for TBI in excess of 10 percent from November 1, 2012, and in excess of 40 percent from May 16, 2019 is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury and Cognitive Disorder due to conflicting evidence in the claims file, including discrepancies between the Veteran's subjective reports and objective medical records.

The Veteran's lung disability is denied as there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or otherwise shown to be associated with his active service, including asbestos exposure.,The Veteran's residuals of TBI are denied as the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that he has current residuals from an in-service motorcycle accident.,The Veteran's back disability is denied as there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or otherwise shown to be related to his active service.,The Veteran's right upper extremity, neck, and bilateral lower extremities disabilities are denied as the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that they began during active service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's claims of a right knee disability, head injury residuals (including TBI), and back disability (scoliosis).,The VA examiner’s rationale was inadequate to adjudicate the Veteran's claims. The Veteran must be afforded another VA examination to determine whether his current conditions are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder, knee, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's representative did not respond to the RO’s request for additional information.,Service connection was also denied for TBI and chronic headache disability as there is no objective evidence supporting their existence or causation in service.