ptsd Rarting For Brain Injury

[101airborne]

hello friends. I am currently rated 50 %ptsd, 10%tinnitus and 10% wrist injury. I found out today that I might have a brain injury. I have loss of memory and chronic headaches. I have done some gooling on Tramatic Brain Injury (TBI) but cannot find very much info on how the rating is done. Im currently waiting for my c&p exam to increase my ptsd rating. I am unemployed also. Im applying for unemployment with the va also.

To stop rambling, my question is : Will this brain injury benifit me in any way. Can I claim it with the VA? How much do people normally recieve for it? I've read only 10%. Will this help me get SSDI if I prove to have a brain injury? Any info is welcome and appreciated.

[Josephine]

Be sure to fill out the TDIU Form if you are unemployed.

Betty

[Ricky]

101 - this will get you started:

8045 Brain disease due to trauma:

Purely neurological disabilities, such as hemiplegia, epileptiform seizures, facial nerve paralysis, etc., following trauma to the brain, will be rated under the diagnostic codes specifically dealing with such disabilities, with citation of a hyphenated diagnostic code (e.g., 8045–8207).

Purely subjective complaints such as headache, dizziness, insomnia, etc., recognized as symptomatic of brain trauma, will be rated 10 percent and no more under diagnostic code 9304. This 10 percent rating will not be combined with any other rating for a disability due to brain trauma. Ratings in excess of 10 percent for brain disease due to trauma under diagnostic code 9304 are not assignable in the absence of a diagnosis of multi-infarct dementia associated with brain trauma.

However, as you can see it will all depend on the residuals effects of the injury for they can and most likely be many. Each will received a rating of its on with a -8045 code. The 10 percent rating is a min for purely subjective symptoms as listed above.

So to answer your question yes it could have a major impression on your overall rating depending on the residuals found to be associated with the injury. As with most VA ratings the injury itself is not a disability and you will have to prove other issues that can be associated with the injury.

And yes it can and will be useful in your SSDI claim. Once again depending on the residual effects of the injury.

You stated "I might have a brain injury." As you already know from dealing with the VA "might" will not cut it. You will have to have a confirmed diagnoses of the TBI and the residual effects before you will get a rating for any of it. Most who have had to deal with Mohammad's antics in Iraq do have some level of brain injury for it is just the nature of the beast in such a situation. Make sure you follow up on this hint and push them to do all that is possible for the injury and residual effects. Good luck and hang with Hadit for the best advice within the veteran community.

Edited May 10, 2008 by Ricky