The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding when the Veteran first had a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, and whether it was manifested prior to June 13, 2013. The Veteran's service treatment records do not show such a diagnosis during active duty, but postservice clinical records indicate various psychiatric diagnoses in the early-mid 1980s.
The deciding factor: The Board found insufficient medical evidence to determine when the Veteran first had a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder and whether it was manifested prior to June 13, 2013.
- Claimed conditions
- schizoaffective disorder, depressed type
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20067922
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.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include schizoaffective disorder and PTSD.
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