The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include schizoaffective disorder, depressive type, and secondary conditions of GERD and hypertension. The claims for major depression and anxiety as separate conditions from the now service-connected schizoaffective disorder, depressive type, were denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's opinion that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is at least as likely as not related to his active service provided a basis for granting service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The lack of separate diagnoses for major depression and anxiety from the now service-connected schizoaffective disorder, depressive type, led to their denial.
- Claimed conditions
- schizoaffective disorder, depressive type, major depression, anxiety, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 23, 2025
- Citation
- A25037553
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and pernicious anemia, and the Board dismissed both appeals.
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