The Veteran's claims for service connection for a hand disorder and an initial rating in excess of 70% for schizoaffective disorder were denied. The claim for TDIU was granted.
The deciding factor: Service connection for the hand disorder could not be established due to lack of evidence, while the current rating for schizoaffective disorder is at its maximum allowable level based on the symptoms described in the VA examination reports.
- Claimed conditions
- Hand Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 23, 2018
- Citation
- 18128388
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18128388.
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 denied service connection for PTSD and Schizoaffective Disorder as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD, the appellant did not become disabled due to schizoaffective disorder in the line of duty during a period of active duty for training or inactive duty for training, and the evidence does not support an in-service injury or disease that could be directly related to the later diagnosed conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's eligibility for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The VA needs to obtain a more detailed and thoroughly explained medical opinion regarding the Veteran's need for personal care services.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's PTSD has rendered him housebound in fact since February 1, 2025. The Board granted entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s)(2).
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of December 20, 2007 for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and increased ratings to 70% from March 27, 2020 to June 5, 2020, and 100% from June 5, 2020. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability was denied.
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