The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically paranoid schizophrenia, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and could not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claim for service connection was denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show a direct relationship between the veteran's military service and his current psychiatric disorder, nor could it be presumed due to exposure to Agent Orange or other recognized risk factors.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (paranoid schizophrenia)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 9, 2002
- Citation
- 0207474
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0207474.
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 Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia, did not have its onset during active service and is not otherwise related to his military service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding in favor of service connection.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board finds that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia, is not related to his military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, as the Veteran's contentions are cumulative and not credible.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically paranoid schizophrenia, first manifested during his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.
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