The Board denied the severance of service connection for unspecified schizophrenia disorder and the discontinuance of basic eligibility to Dependent’s Educational Assistance, finding that there was clear and unmistakable evidence showing the Veteran's character of discharge as dishonorable.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's character of discharge from military service was dishonorable due to unauthorized absence without official leave (AWOL) for a continuous period of at least 180 days, which is a bar to VA benefits.
- Claimed conditions
- unspecified schizophrenia disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20039123
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 20039123.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted an effective date of December 7, 2017 for a 50 percent rating for unspecified depressive disorder with unspecified schizophrenia disorder.
- Dismissed
Your service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, has been granted. You are now receiving a full benefit of 100% disability rating for major depressive disorder.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically unspecified schizophrenia disorder, had its initial onset during service and is therefore granted service connection.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeal as there is no longer a valid claim for an earlier effective date due to the severance of service connection for schizophrenia.
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