Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) residuals are ongoing problems you might have after a head injury.
These can affect your thinking, feelings, or body functions.
They matter a lot for veterans applying for VA disability benefits.
Symptoms and Diagnosis of TBI Residuals
- Cognitive Symptoms: Trouble remembering things, focusing, or paying attention.
- Emotional/Behavioral Symptoms: Feeling anxious or having quick mood changes.
- Physical Symptoms: Experiencing seizures or difficulty with balance.
Getting Diagnosed
To get VA benefits, a specialist like a neurologist or psychiatrist must confirm you have TBI.
Your Path to VA Disability Claims
- Service Connection: You need to show your TBI is linked to your military service. Keep records of any head injuries during service.
- Medical Nexus: Your doctor should say it’s likely your TBI came from your service. It doesn’t have to be 100% certain, just more likely than not.
The VA’s 10-Category Rating System for TBI Residuals
Your TBI is evaluated in ten different areas.
These areas look at how the injury impacts your daily life and abilities:
- Cognitive Abilities: Checking your memory, focus, planning skills, and ability to adjust to changes.
- Judgment: Evaluating if you can make sound decisions.
- Social Skills: Observing how well you interact with others.
- Orientation: Understanding if you’re aware of your surroundings and time.
- Motor Skills: Assessing your ability to do physical activities you’ve learned before.
- Visual-Spatial Skills: Seeing if you have trouble navigating even in well-known places.
- Subjective Symptoms: Identifying symptoms like panic attacks that can’t be measured objectively.
- Neurobehavioral Impact: Looking at changes in your motivation and behavior.
- Communication: Determining how well you can speak or write.
- Consciousness: Checking for severe conditions like coma or vegetative states.
The VA’s Disability Rating Scale
The VA rates TBI residuals on a scale from 0 to Total:
- 0%: Normal functioning, no apparent issues.
- 10%: Mild impact on daily life.
- 40%: Moderate difficulties.
- 70%: Severe challenges in functioning.
- 100%: Total impairment.
If any category is rated as “Total,” the VA will provide a 100% disability rating.
Otherwise, the highest rated category determines your overall rating.
For example, if you have ratings in three categories — 1 for Judgment, 3 for Communication, and 2 for Orientation, the VA will assign a 70% rating, as 3 is the highest.
The higher the rating, the more disability pay you can get.
Understanding TBI residuals is important for getting the right VA benefits.
Think You Have TBI Residuals But Were Denied? Remember, Your Time is as Important as Your Claim
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