The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The veteran's schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, is presumed to have existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. His generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder without agoraphobia, and specific phobia (elevators) are considered to have been incurred during active service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the veteran's schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. The other conditions were determined to be related to service based on their onset during active duty.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar Type"}, {"condition_name":"Generalized Anxiety Disorder"}, {"condition_name":"Panic Disorder Without Agoraphobia"}, {"condition_name":"Specific Phobia (Elevators)"}
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 9, 2006
- Citation
- 0600436
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
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