The Veteran's claim for service connection for a mental health disorder, specifically schizoaffective disorder, has been reopened and granted.,Service connection for frostbite residuals of the right hand and left hand have also been granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence established that the Veteran had a preexisting schizoaffective disorder which was aggravated by service, resulting in current disability. For frostbite residuals, the evidence showed bilateral hand frostbite during service with ongoing symptoms since separation.
- Claimed conditions
- Schizoaffective Disorder, Frostbite Residuals of the Right Hand, Frostbite Residuals of the Left Hand
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 10, 2018
- Citation
- 1821006
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 1821006.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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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