Evaluation of the Disability Determination Process for Traumatic Brain Injury in Veterans

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) provides disability compensation to veterans with a service-connected injury, and to receive disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a veteran must submit a claim or have a claim submitted on his or her behalf. Evaluation of the Disability Determination Process for Traumatic Brain Injury in Veterans reviews the process by which the VA assesses impairments resulting from traumatic brain injury for purposes of awarding disability compensation. This report also provides recommendations for legislative or administrative action for improving the adjudication of veterans' claims seeking entitlement to compensation for all impairments arising from a traumatic brain injury. Table of Contents Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 Diagnosis and Assessment of Traumatic Brain Injury 3 Disability Determination Process for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury 4 Characteristics of a High-Quality Process for Determining Disability Resulting from Traumatic Brain Injury 5 Summary and Recommendations Appendix A: Legislation Directing the Study Appendix B: Definitions of Traumatic Brain Injury Appendix C: Timeline of Disability and Veterans Compensation Policy Appendix D: DBQ Initial Evaluation of Residuals of Traumatic Brain Injury (I-TBI) Disability Appendix E: 4.124a Schedule of Ratings - Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders Appendix F: Case Definitions of Traumatic Brain Injury Appendix G: MACE 2: Military Acute Concussion Evaluation Appendix H: Fact Sheet: Coding Guidance for Traumatic Brain Injury Appendix I: M21-1 Compensation and Pension Manual Appendix J: Review Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Disability Benefits Questionnaire Appendix K: Information and Instructions for Completing Notice of Disagreement (NOD) Appendix L: Appeal to Board of Veterans' Appeals Appendix M: Neck (Cervical Spine) Conditions Disability Benefits Questionnaire Appendix N: Summary Table of U.S. Government Accountability Office Reports Relevant to Adjudication of Veterans' Disability Claims