The Veteran's claim for service connection for a traumatic brain injury secondary to his service-connected tinnitus is denied. The Veteran's PTSD with insomnia is granted an initial disability rating of 50 percent from November 24, 2015, to February 8, 2017, and from April 1, 2017, to April 24, 2018. His claim for a TDIU is dismissed due to the assignment of a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with insomnia caused total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating from November 24, 2015, to February 8, 2017, and from April 1, 2017, to April 24, 2018. The Veteran's PTSD symptoms caused by his service-connected disabilities resulted in total occupational impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic Brain Injury, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with insomnia, Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- June 11, 2020
- Citation
- 20040170
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20040170.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial ratings for anxiety disorder and TBI were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected left knee and left ankle conditions.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected other specified insomnia disorder.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and heart disability, including coronary artery disease, as these conditions are found to be proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.
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