The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than paranoid schizophrenia, to include substance abuse disorders and PTSD, as secondary to the already service-connected paranoid schizophrenia. Service connection for PTSD is also granted based on evidence of record at least in equipoise with the claim.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of substance abuse disorders (secondary to the service-connected paranoid schizophrenia) and PTSD are at least in equipoise with the claims, thus resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder other than paranoid schizophrenia (to include substance abuse disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)), Paranoid schizophrenia
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- February 9, 2026
- Citation
- A26012001
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 A26012001.
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 remands the matter to obtain a medical opinion that addresses whether the Veteran's diagnosed conditions of paranoid schizophrenia and insomnia are related to service.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted an award of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on his service-connected paranoid schizophrenia and renal cancer, but the appeal for a higher level of SMC due to the need for a higher level of care in addition to regular aid and attendance was denied.
- Denied
The Veteran is found incompetent to handle her VA funds due to multiple psychiatric symptoms and frequent hospitalizations, despite receiving 100% disability pay.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and a rating increase due to his psychiatric disabilities, specifically PTSD. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.
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