Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the AOJ's decision denying eligibility for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is not supported by adequate reasoning and must be remanded to allow for a thorough review, including obtaining medical opinions on whether it is in the best interest of the Veteran to participate in the PCAFC program.

The Veteran is requesting an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for TBI with cognitive disorder associated with closed head injury based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE). The Board has determined that this matter should be remanded to allow the AOJ to conduct a first-instance adjudication.

The appeal for service connection of right knee disability is dismissed as the claim was fully granted in a prior rating decision. The appeals for other conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including TBI, gastrointestinal disability, peripheral vascular disease, bladder disability, right elbow disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (unspecified anxiety disorder), have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current residuals from a TBI or any other claimed conditions related to in-service injuries or diseases.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection of a traumatic brain injury and its residuals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for any of the claimed conditions and thus, service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to inadequate examination reports and failure to obtain necessary information.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, nose condition, and acquired psychiatric condition have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.,Specifically, regarding TBI, the Board determined that the Veteran's statements about an in-service incident were not credible due to inconsistencies with his prior medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of January 22, 2020 for a permanent 100 percent disability rating for PTSD and TBI. The evidence did not show that the increase in disability occurred within one year prior to the filing of the January 22, 2020 claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining updated VA treatment records and private treatment records from Kaiser or the counselor. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD with traumatic brain injury is being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's claims for a separate evaluation of PTSD and an increased rating for TBI with PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury, blurred vision, and headaches due to the need for further examination and medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for various conditions was improper, and restored these claims based on new evidence.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining complete STRs and military personnel records.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for headaches, sleep apnea, and traumatic brain injury as well as individual unemployability due to a withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran's authorized representative.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not raise issues related to service connection until his April 2019 claim, which was based on continuous pursuit of an original claim since receipt of the intent to file on that date.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased rating for PTSD with TBI and a separate rating for TBI have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a traumatic brain injury and a compensable rating for left scalp lipoma have been denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of TBI, and the Veteran's left scalp lipoma has resolved.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to provide a VA examination and obtain an etiology opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service head injury.

The Veteran's service connection claims for TBI residuals and headaches are granted as the evidence supports that these conditions began during his active duty service.