BVA Case 220930-281637: PTSD
BVAReal Board of Veterans' Appeals decision · November 18, 2024 · R. Bisignani
Conditions Claimed
PTSDDepressionAnxietyPsychiatricTinnitusHipDiabetes
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
2026 base rates, all ratings (veteran alone)
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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Issues on Appeal
PTSDDepressionAnxietyPsychiatricTinnitusHipDiabetes
Why It Was Decided This Way
Establishing service connection generally requires (1) evidence of a current disability; (2) evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury; and (3) evidence of a nexus between the claimed in-service disease or injury and the present disability.
Establishing service connection for PTSD requires evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD, credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor actually occurred, and medical evidence of a causal nexus between the current symptomatology and the claimed in-service stressor.
The Board must assess the credibility and weight of all the evidence, including the medical evidence, to determine its probative value, accounting for the evidence which it finds to be persuasive or unpersuasive, and providing reasons for rejecting any evidence favorable to the claimant.
When there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding any issue material to the determination of a matter, the Secretary shall give the benefit of the doubt to the claimant.
3d 1477, 1481 (1997) (finding Board entitled to discount the credibility of evidence in light of its own inherent characteristics and its relationship to other items of evidence).
In determining whether the duty to assist requires that a VA medical examination be provided, or medical opinion obtained with respect to a veteran's claim for benefits, there are four factors for consideration.
In this case, it has not been reached, and the Board finds that no duty to assist error occurred in not providing the Veteran with a VA examination of his claimed acquired psychiatric condition.
The Board finds based on the foregoing that the elements of in-service injury and nexus have not been established by the weight of the probative evidence of record.
Authorities Cited
Regulations Cited (38 CFR / 38 USC)
Denial Type
Credibility|No Nexus|Duty To Assist
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