BVA Case 23040725: PTSD
BVAReal Board of Veterans' Appeals decision · July 26, 2023 · SHAUN S. SPERANZA
Conditions Claimed
PTSDAnxietyPsychiatricHipEyeHypertension
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
PTSDAnxietyPsychiatricHipEyeHypertension
Why It Was Decided This Way
Most recently, in December 2022, the Board remanded the appeal to obtain an adequate examination and opinion.
A grant for service connection for a disability requires: (1) a present disability or persistent or recurrent symptoms of a disability; (2) an in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury; and (3) a causal relationship ("nexus") between the present disability and the in-service event, injury, or disease.
A disability, with no causal relationship ("nexus") to an in-service event can be considered service-connected by being proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disease or injury.
To establish secondary service connection there must be (1) evidence of a current disability; (2) evidence of a service-connected disability; and (3) competent evidence establishing a link ("nexus") between the service-connected disability and the current disability.
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.
Based on this statement, the Board found the May 2019 and December 2017 opinions inadequate due to lack of proper reasoning and because the opinion was beyond the examiner's scope.
The Board found this opinion inadequate because the RO did not schedule the examination with a mental health professional.
After reviewing the record, the VA physician opined that there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus, with greater than 50 percent probability, that the Veteran's hypertension was proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated beyond its natural progression by, his chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.
Authorities Cited
Regulations Cited (38 CFR / 38 USC)
Denial Type
No Nexus|Inadequate Exam
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