BVA decisions by condition
Residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI): BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2017 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) issue in 5,715 decisions. It granted the residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) issue in 13.8% of them, below the 19.4% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 33.0%, and remanded it in 51.7%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 29.5% were granted.
Decisions
5,715
2017–2026
Granted
13.8%
All conditions: 19.4%
Granted on the merits
29.5%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
51.7%
Denied: 33.0%
Residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) outcomes by year
| Year | Decisions | Granted | Denied | Remanded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 275 | 8.0% | 31.3% | 51.3% |
| 2018 | 512 | 9.6% | 35.4% | 52.1% |
| 2019 | 705 | 11.2% | 34.0% | 53.2% |
| 2020 | 643 | 12.8% | 32.0% | 54.7% |
| 2021 | 620 | 13.7% | 36.1% | 49.7% |
| 2022 | 622 | 13.2% | 28.8% | 57.2% |
| 2023 | 762 | 13.6% | 29.5% | 55.8% |
| 2024 | 685 | 18.1% | 32.0% | 50.1% |
| 2025 | 665 | 17.1% | 36.8% | 43.9% |
| 2026 | 226 | 21.7% | 36.7% | 41.2% |
Evidence in granted and denied residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive nexus opinion | 960 | 55.6% | 22.5% | +33.0 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 979 | 52.7% | 22.2% | +30.4 pts |
| Buddy statement | 242 | 52.5% | 28.6% | +23.9 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 178 | 50.8% | 29.0% | +21.8 pts |
| Treating physician opinion | 232 | 42.6% | 28.7% | +13.8 pts |
| Combat service | 746 | 39.6% | 27.8% | +11.8 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 1,453 | 37.4% | 26.6% | +10.8 pts |
| Lay statement | 4,750 | 30.2% | 24.4% | +5.8 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 65.3% of the decisions that granted residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 36.2% of grants and 14.9% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unfavorable VA exam | 4,305 | 28.7% | 34.5% | −5.8 pts |
| Negative nexus opinion | 2,705 | 26.3% | 33.2% | −6.9 pts |
Why the Board granted or denied residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Most common reasons in grants
- Current diagnosis established39
- Criteria for service connection met13
- In-service head injury documented9
- Caused by the service-connected disability6
- Continuity of symptomatology since service5
- VA failed to meet burden of proof for reduction4
- Reduction void ab initio4
- New and material evidence submitted4
Most common reasons in denials
- No current diagnosis236
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim173
- Service records negative or silent53
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service50
- Current diagnosis established49
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis44
- Criteria for service connection not met34
- No current TBI diagnosis15
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions
Granted
Visual spatial impairment not compensated by PTSD rating; Mild impairment approximated Level 2 criteria for 40% rating
Separate ratings warranted due to differentiated symptomology; TBI symptoms include memory, attention, concentration, and executive function deficits; 40 percent rating granted for TBI residuals
New and relevant evidence submitted post-denial; VA treatment records show post-concussive syndrome diagnosis; Private nexus opinion establishes link to in-service head injury; Veteran testimony corroborates in-service injury and continuity of symptoms
Denied
No evidence beyond Veteran's testimony of TBI.; No competent medical evidence of TBI diagnosis or nexus to service.; Veteran not competent to provide medical nexus opinion.
No current diagnosis of TBI.; Veteran admitted to negative MRI for TBI.; No evidence of functional impairment of earning capacity.
Service treatment records negative for TBI complaints or diagnosis.; No TBI reported during post-service PTSD examination.; Veteran's assertions of in-service head injury found not credible.; No current diagnosis of TBI or symptoms causing functional impairment.
Rules that apply to residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) claims
- 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) case
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How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2017–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.