The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia should be remanded due to a need for further VA examination and development of evidence.
The deciding factor: The decision is being remanded because there are inconsistencies in the claims history, including a prior denial of a nervous disorder claim. The Veteran also provided new information about his alleged sexual assault during leave from active service and exposure to combat while serving aboard the U.S.S. Conflict. A VA examination is needed to determine if these events contributed to the current psychiatric disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- schizophrenia, disorganized schizophrenia, major depression with melancholia and psychotic features, schizoaffective disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 13, 2010
- Citation
- 1002078
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1002078.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-service psychiatric treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Granted
The Veteran's schizophrenia is rated at 70 percent, indicating significant impairment in work and social functioning.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, sleep apnea, post-traumatic stress disorder, and urinary frequency as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claims for an effective date prior to August 18, 2016, for a 100 percent disability rating for schizophrenia and for spousal SMC for aid and attendance. The Veteran's claim was erroneously adjudicated by the AOJ and constitutes a free-standing earlier effective date claim.
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