The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and is now considered on the merits. The Board found that new evidence supports reopening the claim, but denied service connection due to lack of a verified stressor.,Service connection was denied for left wrist sprain as there was no evidence linking it to service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran provided testimony during his hearing indicating he experienced physical assault while in service, which could serve as the basis for PTSD. However, the VA examiner found that the current diagnosis of PTSD is not related to an in-service injury or event.,VA examination revealed Level II hearing loss in both ears and a left wrist sprain was diagnosed. The examiner concluded there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Left wrist sprain, Hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19131885
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of February 21, 2007, for the award of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder with anxious distress.
- Granted
The Board granted a rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), as the Veteran's symptoms most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Granted
The Board granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.
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