The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his service-connected right acromioclavicular separation and schizoaffective disorder were denied due to his failure to appear at scheduled VA examinations without good cause.
The deciding factor: The Veteran failed to report for the scheduled VA medical examinations, which was a prerequisite for determining the current severity of his conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Right acromioclavicular separation, Schizoaffective disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19101445
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,861 · Granted: 27% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19101445.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and schizoaffective disorder, due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The case will be readjudicated with a focus on obtaining treatment records from UT Health San Antonio Transitional Care Clinic and obtaining a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that new evidence supports the readjudication of the claim for service connection for a mental disorder, but dismissed appeals seeking compensable ratings for residuals of right hand 5th metacarpal fracture and left ear hearing loss. The case is remanded to determine if an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, schizoaffective disorder, and alcohol use disorder, finding that the Veteran's in-service experiences qualify as a stressor event related to his mental health conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability alone has rendered him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment, and he is granted a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU) based on this condition. Additionally, the Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) due to his housebound status.
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.