A new VA watchdog report found that nearly 95% of post-9/11 veterans in VA health care got screened for traumatic brain injury — but about half of the ones who screened positive never got the follow-up exam that actually documents the injury. If that's you, this is what it means for your claim, and what to do about it starting today.
The Problem: Screened Positive, Then Nothing Happened
Here's the frustrating part veterans keep running into. You deployed, you took a blast, a rollover, a hard hit — and at some point during a VA health visit, someone handed you a short questionnaire about it. You answered honestly. It flagged you as a possible TBI case. And then… silence. No follow-up call. No comprehensive evaluation. Nothing in your file that a claims examiner can actually use.
According to a new report from the VA Office of Inspector General, that's not a one-off glitch — it's a pattern. The Veterans Health Administration successfully screened almost 95% of post-9/11 veterans enrolled in VA health care for deployment-related TBI. But of those who screened positive, roughly half never received the more thorough medical evaluation needed to confirm and document the injury. The OIG pointed to three causes: scheduling breakdowns, VA staff failing to submit the consult requests that trigger the follow-up exam, and underused telehealth options inside the VA's Polytrauma System of Care — the network built specifically to evaluate and treat TBI and related injuries.
Why does this matter for your VA claim? Because a positive screening question is not a diagnosis, and it is definitely not a rating. VA rates TBI under Diagnostic Code 8045, and the rating is built from a detailed, 10-part evaluation — not the short screening form. If you never got that full evaluation, the VA has no record it can use to rate you, even though you were already flagged as a likely case years ago.
How VA Actually Rates TBI (Diagnostic Code 8045)
VA rates traumatic brain injury across 10 facets: memory and cognition, judgment, social interaction, orientation, motor activity, visual-spatial orientation, subjective symptoms, neurobehavioral effects, communication, and consciousness. Each facet gets scored at a level, and the single highest facet level sets your overall rating.
| Facet Level | Rating | What It Generally Looks Like | 2026 Monthly Pay (veteran alone) |
|---|---|---|---|
| No impairment / subjective only | 0% | Self-reported symptoms (occasional headache, mild memory complaints) with no objective deficit — still service-connected, just non-compensable | $0 |
| Level 1 (Mild) | 10% | Mild memory/cognitive complaints, mild irritability or mood change, symptoms that don't significantly interfere with work or daily life | $180.42 |
| Level 2 (Moderate) | 40% | Moderate memory loss, executive dysfunction, or frequent headaches/dizziness that noticeably reduce work or social functioning | $795.84 |
| Level 3 (Moderately Severe) | 70% | Severe memory impairment, disorganized executive function, or disabling neurobehavioral effects — veteran typically can't sustain competitive employment | $1,808.45 |
| Level T (Total) | 100% | Total impairment — complete disorientation, total inability to communicate, or complete loss of motor control in two or more limbs | $3,938.58 |
Rates effective December 1, 2025. Source: VA.gov 2026 compensation rates; rating criteria per 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8045.
The important thing to understand: without the comprehensive TBI evaluation, none of those 10 facets ever get scored. A "positive screen" sitting in your medical record, on its own, does not translate into a rating — and it doesn't automatically become part of a disability claim either.
The AVOY System: What to Do About It
This is exactly the kind of gap the AVOY method is built to catch — organize before you file, and never assume the VA will connect the dots for you. Here's the plan if this applies to you or someone you served with.
- Find out if you were ever flagged. Log in to My HealtheVet or call your VA primary care team and ask directly: "Was I ever screened positive for TBI, and did I get the follow-up comprehensive evaluation?" Many veterans have no idea this happened years ago during an unrelated appointment.
- If you screened positive and never got evaluated, request the exam now — don't wait for VA to reach out. Ask your provider for a referral/consult to the Polytrauma System of Care for a full TBI evaluation. This is the exact step the OIG found VA staff were failing to complete on their own.
- If you already have a low rating or a denial, ask whether your exam actually covered all 10 facets. An incomplete evaluation is grounds to request a new Compensation & Pension exam or file for an increase — you're not stuck with a rating built on a partial picture.
- Build your own record while you wait. Keep a plain symptom log (memory slips, headaches, mood changes, sleep problems) with dates. Get buddy statements from people who knew you before and after the in-service event. A private neuropsychological evaluation, submitted ahead of your VA exam, carries real weight.
- Know what rides along with TBI. Depression, Parkinsonism, unprovoked seizures, and certain dementias are presumptively linked to moderate or severe TBI — no separate nexus letter required once TBI itself is service-connected. Sleep apnea, PTSD, migraines, and tinnitus commonly connect secondary to TBI with a nexus opinion. Each one is a separate claim that stacks onto your combined rating.
If you're just getting your paperwork organized for the first time, this is also a good moment to file an Intent to File before you request the evaluation — it locks in your effective date and protects back pay while the exam gets scheduled.
The Access Point
You don't have to sort through 10 rating facets and a stack of medical records alone.
Get the Free Evidence Checklist →
Ask AVOY Veteran Navigator AI™ →
Recommended Reading: VA Disability Ratings Guide
Stop guessing what your rating is worth. A full breakdown of how VA calculates every diagnostic code — including neurological conditions like TBI — and what it means for your monthly pay.
Get the Book →Frequently Asked Questions
I remember filling out a TBI questionnaire years ago at a VA appointment. How do I find out what happened with it?
Log in to My HealtheVet and check your health records, or call your VA primary care team directly and ask whether you were ever screened positive for TBI and whether a follow-up comprehensive evaluation was completed. Don't assume no news means you were cleared — the OIG report found the gap was often just a missed referral.
Does a "positive" TBI screen by itself get me a disability rating?
No. The screening question only flags you as a possible case. VA rates TBI under Diagnostic Code 8045 using a detailed 10-facet evaluation, and that evaluation — not the short screening form — is what actually produces a rating.
What if I already have a TBI rating but it feels too low?
Ask whether your original exam actually assessed all 10 facets. An incomplete evaluation is a legitimate reason to request a new C&P exam or file for an increase, particularly if your symptoms have worsened or weren't fully captured the first time.
What conditions can I claim alongside TBI?
Depression, Parkinsonism, unprovoked seizures, and certain dementias are presumptively linked to moderate or severe TBI. Sleep apnea, PTSD, migraines, and tinnitus commonly connect as secondary conditions with a nexus opinion. Each is filed and rated separately, then combined into your overall percentage.
Where do I start if I've never filed a claim for this at all?
File an Intent to File first to lock in your effective date, then request the comprehensive TBI evaluation through your VA provider while you gather buddy statements and a symptom log. Our free Evidence Checklist walks through exactly what to collect before you file.
Related Reading
- What to Expect at Your PTSD C&P Exam (and How to Prepare)
- How to Increase Your VA Disability Rating: The 3 Levers
- VA Back Pay & Effective Dates: How to Calculate What VA Owes You
Source: Stars and Stripes, "5 things to know in veterans news: Post-9/11 vets miss out on TBI exams…," Linda F. Hersey, published Aug. 7, 2026, citing a report by the VA Office of Inspector General.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not legal, medical, or financial advice, and does not constitute claim representation. AVOY is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Filing a VA claim is free, and a VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) can help you at no cost. In crisis? Dial 988, then press 1.
