The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizoaffective disorder and PTSD. The Board found that there is a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim due to evidence showing the disability was caused by events in service, specifically witnessing a fellow serviceman killed during a bar fight after being struck with a glass bottle.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizoaffective disorder and PTSD, is as likely as not the result of his military service based on evidence showing he witnessed a fellow serviceman killed during a bar fight in service.
- Claimed conditions
- schizoaffective disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19175183
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 19175183.
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 has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-service psychiatric treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer but remanded the claim for PTSD due to insufficient verification of stressor incidents.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found the eligibility determination for PCAFC enrollment to be legally inadequate and remanded for a new medical opinion that adequately addresses the criteria for eligibility as set forth in VA regulations.
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