Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury.

The Board has ordered remand due to inadequate opinions regarding the service connection for diabetes, gastritis, and related conditions. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided for the TBI claim is inadequate and remanded to provide an addendum opinion. The same applies to the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, headaches, and tinnitus as they are inextricably intertwined with the TBI claim.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and remanded the claims for higher initial ratings for PTSD, back, neck, and knee disabilities. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

Service connection is granted for a cervical spine condition (neck disability) with an effective date of November 30, 2012. Effective dates for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are not established as the Veteran did not file claims for these conditions prior to November 30, 2012.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for posttraumatic headaches and a rating in excess of 10 percent for traumatic brain injury were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for these ratings, as the Veteran did not have characteristic prostrating attacks or severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed.,New evidence has reopened the claim of service connection for a back disability, but the claim remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury and Meniere’s disease have been granted. The claim for TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI symptoms have been evaluated as a single condition, resulting in a 50 percent rating. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

Your appeal has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of your case. The Board does not have jurisdiction to decide the merits of this appeal now.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability ratings for TBI residuals is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and neuropsychological testing.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for various disabilities, including bilateral eye disability, bilateral hip disability, left shoulder disability, psychiatric disorder (to include sleep disturbances and memory loss), neck disability, and TBI, were denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches is denied.,A separate rating of 10 percent for traumatic brain injury is granted.,An effective date of May 6, 2016, but not earlier, for the increased rating of 30 percent for migraine headaches is granted.

The Board denied restoration of a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's TBI residuals since May 28, 2014 and also denied a higher than 10 percent rating. The reduction in rating was found to be proper due to improvement in cognitive function.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic headaches were denied. The TBI residuals did not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent, while the post-traumatic headaches met the criteria for a separate 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury and Migraine Headaches also claimed as secondary to TBI due to inconsistencies in his reported history of injuries, lack of National Guard duty records after 2008, and potential applicability of 38 U.S.C. § 1154(b) for the claimed TBI injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI and an acquired psychiatric condition have been reopened. The Board has determined that additional medical examinations are necessary to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for arthritis, sinusitis, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and residuals of frostbitten feet. However, these claims are being remanded as new evidence does not establish a direct link between any current disabilities and military service.,Service connection is denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder (Major Depressive Disorder) due to lack of evidence establishing a direct relationship with military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of sleep apnea, and her lumbar spine disability was rated based on limitation of motion rather than IVDS. Her skin disability met criteria for a 10% rating since May 30, 2018. PTSD symptoms did not meet criteria for TDIU, but the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded her from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability are granted. The Board also found that the Veteran’s TBI is etiologically related to his active service.