The Board found that the appellant was insane at the time of his AWOL periods and granted service connection for insanity and paranoia, thus not considering it a bar to VA benefits.
The deciding factor: Medical evidence supported the finding that the appellant was insane during his in-service misconduct, which allowed him to avoid having his discharge characterized as dishonorable.
- Claimed conditions
- Insanity, Paranoid Schizophrenia
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19131902
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 70 percent for service-connected paranoid schizophrenia and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective July 1, 2020.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected paranoid schizophrenia, secondary to TBI, qualifies for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on a greater need for aid and attendance.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a rating of 50 percent for PTSD and paranoid schizophrenia from November 15, 2004, to May 12, 2022, but denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the appellant's discharge from service was due to willful and persistent misconduct, but also found evidence of insanity at the time of his behavior. Therefore, the character of his discharge does not constitute a bar to VA benefits.
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