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
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20040170.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected other specified insomnia disorder.
- Whole decision: 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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