The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenic reaction, paranoid type (also claimed as hearing void psychosis, victim of lighting strike) due to new and material evidence. However, the case is remanded for further development regarding whether the condition worsened during military service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that new evidence raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim but requires clarification on whether the Veteran's preexisting condition worsened during service.
- Claimed conditions
- schizophrenic reaction, paranoid type
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19160952
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 19160952.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder was granted with an effective date of May 30, 2014. The Board found that the earliest date entitlement could have arisen was September 1962 based on a March 2015 VA medical opinion.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for schizophrenia, paranoid type and for an earlier effective date for service connection. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or for an earlier effective date.
- Denied
The Board dismissed the Veteran's motion for revision of a December 1969 rating decision that denied service connection for schizophrenic reaction, paranoid type based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) because there was no evidence to establish such error. The correct facts were not before the adjudicator as the RO applied the law extant at the time.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further examination and medical opinion regarding the appellant's mental health at the time of his misconduct offenses.
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