The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as schizophrenia, is service-connected. The claims for polysubstance abuse, traumatic brain injury residuals, low back disorder, and bronchitis are pending.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence supports a direct link between the Veteran's military service and his current diagnoses of schizoaffective disorder and polysubstance dependence/abuse.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (Schizophrenia), Polysubstance Abuse, Residuals of Traumatic Brain Injury, Low Back Disorder, Bronchitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 24, 2014
- Citation
- 1442903
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 1442903.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The reduction of the disability rating for headaches from 50% to 30% is not proper and is void ab initio. Effective dates are denied for various service connection claims.,Multiple issues related to initial disability ratings, effective dates, and earlier effective dates for higher ratings are remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial disability rating for bronchitis with asthma is granted at a 60 percent level through December 26, 2023. The rating of 10 percent between December 27, 2023 and November 11, 2025 is denied. A higher rating since November 12, 2025 is also denied.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and for residuals of traumatic brain injury, finding that both conditions are related to her military service.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for PTSD with major depressive disorder and traumatic brain injury was withdrawn. The Veteran's migraine headaches are now rated at 50% disability, the maximum rating allowed under VA guidelines. However, his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.