The Board has granted service connection for a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and determined that the Veteran's bilateral upper extremity disability is related to his service, specifically his cervical strain with degenerative disc disease. The TBI was incurred during deployment in Iraq due to exposure to IED explosions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's current symptoms are consistent with a combination of TBI and a behavioral health condition, and noted that his clinical symptoms were most consistent with a TBI sustained during his deployment by his treatment provider. The bilateral upper extremity disability is considered secondary to his service-connected cervical strain with degenerative disc disease.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic Brain Injury, Bilateral Upper Extremity Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 19, 2012
- Citation
- 1243420
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1243420.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial ratings for anxiety disorder and TBI were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected traumatic brain injury is being remanded due to a procedural error.
- Granted
The Board granted entitlement to SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(t) effective January 21, 2019, based on the appellant's need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected TBI.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for TBI is denied. The appeal for entitlement to TDIU is dismissed as moot.
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