The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory condition was denied in July 1997. The Board has not received new and material evidence to reopen this claim. The Veteran's acquired schizoaffective disorder is granted as etiologically related to his active service. The right breast scar issue remains pending, with the need for additional development including a VA examination. The TDIU issue is also pending and will be addressed after necessary development of the increased rating claim.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's respiratory condition and schizoaffective disorder claims have not been reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The right breast scar issue requires additional medical evaluation, while the TDIU claim remains pending as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim for the right breast scar.
- Claimed conditions
- respiratory condition, schizoaffective disorder
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 1, 2019
- Citation
- 19175332
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed alternatively as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder, due to an inadequate VA examiner's opinion and a failure to fulfill the duty to assist in obtaining relevant medical records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for schizoaffective disorder to ensure proper notice and a new VA psychiatric examination.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia, migraines, neuropsychological signs or symptoms, and a respiratory condition. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep disorder, lumbar spine disability, bilateral eye conditions, gastrointestinal problems, high blood pressure, and left below knee amputation were remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of December 10, 1985, for the grant of service connection for schizoaffective disorder based on newly received and relevant service department records.
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