The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for TBI, reopening of service connection claims for tinnitus and headaches, as well as service connection for various secondary conditions are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that the current evidence is insufficient to determine the severity and nature of the Veteran's TBI residuals without a new examination, and also requires further development regarding outstanding VA treatment records.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalgia, Neuralgia, Vision Problems (Glaucoma and Blindness), Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) with Dyspepsia, Vertigo and Dizziness
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20002892
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted a rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), as the Veteran's symptoms most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Granted
The Veteran's effective date for the award of a 100 percent rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder moderate and TBI was granted as of October 22, 2019.
- Denied
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and increased evaluations for GERD, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and TBI.
- Denied
The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI) as the evidence did not support a finding of symptoms related to TBI residuals.
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