Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine condition and dismissed the claim for PTSD, while denying claims for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, TBI rating increase, status post right knee meniscectomy rating increase, and scar rating.

The Board granted separate ratings for a peripheral vestibular disorder, oculomotor disorder, and headaches associated with TBI but denied a separate rating for the TBI itself.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, cervical spine (neck) disability, lumbar spine (back) disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and erectile dysfunction. The appeal was dismissed for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder due to the grant of an unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress.

The Board denied service connection for chronic headaches and TBI due to a lack of evidence supporting the claims.

The Board granted service connection for unspecified myopathy, manifesting as facial myalgia and residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), to include blurred vision and diplopia.

The Board denied service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to the Veteran's failure to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause. The claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and secondary service connection were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a traumatic brain injury and remanded the issue of secondary service connection for tension headaches, as additional evidence was needed to determine if the Veteran's tension headaches were caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a higher initial rating for psychotic disorder, a compensable rating for scalp scar, and service connection for TBI. However, the Board granted service connection for headaches.

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, solar lentigines, and acne as manifestations of a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness (MUCMI), while denying an increased rating for PTSD with residuals of traumatic brain injury. The Board also granted initial ratings for migraine and tension headaches, right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome.

The appeal regarding the evaluation of unspecified anxiety disorder with TBI and the effective date for the 70 percent evaluation is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding that the earliest possible effective date was September 9, 2022.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for special monthly compensation at a higher rate and an earlier effective date for service connection for traumatic brain injury with depressive disorder to include alcohol use disorder, mild early remission.

The Board remands the claims for further development and evidence collection, including obtaining records from a civilian orthopedist and Tamarack Health Hayward Medical Center, as well as scheduling examinations to address Meniere's Disease and dysautonomia.

The Board denied service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, left and right ankle conditions, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Board granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and meniscal tear residuals, but remanded the claims for a recurrent sleep disability to include obstructive sleep apnea and a compensable rating for TBI residuals.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection of headaches, generalized anxiety disorder, and bilateral foot exposure to excessive natural cold, but denied an earlier effective date for tinnitus. The Board also denied increased ratings for several conditions including tinnitus.

The Board remands the claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, due to a duty to assist error.

All appeals for higher initial ratings and service connection were dismissed as they were duplicative of previously addressed appeals or due to untimely filings.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of June 4, 2015 for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including a lumbar spine disorder and various peripheral neuropathies, as the probative evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active military service.