The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (to include paranoid schizophrenia and polysubstance abuse disorder) and low back stenosis have been granted. The issues regarding the initial ratings for cervical stenosis, left upper extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder disability, left hip arthritis, right hip arthritis, hearing loss, and hypertension are being remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's psychiatric conditions (paranoid schizophrenia and polysubstance abuse disorder) were found to have been incurred in service due to the presence of symptoms since separation. His low back stenosis was also found to be related to his military service based on evidence of treatment during service and continuity of symptoms post-service.
- Claimed conditions
- paranoid schizophrenia, polysubstance abuse disorder, low back stenosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- April 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19127001
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 Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia on the basis other than clear and unmistakable error (CUE), finding that March 3, 2008 is the earliest possible effective date.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of paranoid schizophrenia, finding that the evidence did not support a grant based on newly added service personnel records.
- Dismissed
The appeal concerning the issues of entitlement to service connection for paranoid schizophrenia and posttraumatic stress disorder was dismissed due to the Veteran's death prior to the submission of a valid substitution request.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date than January 18, 2023, for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia.
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