The Board found no current diagnosis of a back disorder and denied the claim for service connection. For schizophrenia, the Board noted that the veteran's disability picture more nearly approximates total occupational and social impairment with symptoms such as grossly inappropriate behavior, intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living, disorientation to time or place, memory loss, and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) score of 30. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for schizophrenia was denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show a current diagnosis of a back disorder, and the preponderance of the evidence supported denial of service connection. For schizophrenia, the Board found that the veteran's disability picture more nearly approximated total occupational and social impairment with symptoms such as grossly inappropriate behavior, intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living, disorientation to time or place, memory loss, and GAF score of 30.
- Claimed conditions
- back disorder, schizophrenia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 26, 2005
- Citation
- 0511696
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 0511696.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder, high blood pressure, and type II diabetes mellitus due to errors in development of the claim.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for headaches, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, back disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a failure to provide notice regarding the Veteran's right to a hearing.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's schizophrenia is rated at 70 percent, indicating significant impairment in work and social functioning.
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