CAVC Case 01-1489: Psychiatric

CAVCReal U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) decision · May 14, 2004 · IVERS

This is a decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims — the federal court that reviews Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions, one level above the Board. Court decisions can vacate, reverse, or affirm what the Board did.

What would this rating pay you? (2026 rates)

Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.

per month ·  per year, tax-free

Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.

2026 base rates, all ratings (veteran alone)
RatingMonthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA)
10%$180.42
20%$356.66
30%$552.47
40%$795.84
50%$1,132.90
60%$1,435.02
70%$1,808.45
80%$2,102.15
90%$2,362.30
100%$3,938.58
See your full claim picture — free
Outcome
Vacated
Decision Date
May 14, 2004
Judge
IVERS
Service Era
Not specified

Conditions Claimed

PsychiatricTDIUEye

Sponsored
Missing the medical evidence for your VA claim? REE Medical connects veterans with independent licensed providers for nexus letters and DBQs — $50 off through this link.

Referral disclosure: VetAid earns a referral fee if you become a paying REE Medical client through this link — it helps keep this site free. REE Medical provides paid medical evidence; it is not a law firm, VSO, or claims agent, and VetAid has not independently verified its services. VSOs and VA-accredited representatives will help you file your claim at no cost, and no one can guarantee a rating increase.

Issues on Appeal

PsychiatricTDIUEye

Why It Was Decided This Way

Acosta asserts that the Board provided an inadequate statement of reasons or bases for its decision on the basis that it failed to address whether his March 1983 Substantive Appeal as to an earlier VA regional office (RO) decision was timely, and, if so, whether that appeal is still pending.

He further contends that in its decision the Board failed to address his assigned disability rating, which he raised in a Notice of Disagreement (NOD), and he seeks a remand of that matter with instructions that he be issued a Statement of the Case (SOC) on that issue.

Acosta] submitted new and material evidence that a causative link between his [psychiatric] disability and service was demonstrated.

Acosta's contention that the Board failed to address the percentage of disability is without merit because Mr.

§ 5108 he needed to present new and material evidence to reopen his claim.

In October 1995, the RO, after finding that new and material evidence had not been presented, declined to reopen Mr.

In January 1998, the Board found that he had presented new and material evidence to reopen his claim for a psychiatric disability diagnosed as schizophreniform psychosis.

In the June 2001 decision here on appeal, the Board found: In March 1984, the veteran filed a timely [NOD] with the March 1983 RO rating decision denying service connection for chronic psychiatric disability, and [an SOC] addressing the matter (with attached cover letter and VA form 1-9) was issued on May 1, 1984[,] and sent to him at his last known address of record.

Authorities Cited

Allday v. BrownBeyrle v. BrownBuckley v. WestColayong v. WestCrawford v. BrownGilbert v. DerwinskiIn Breeden v. PrincipiIn Myers v. PrincipiLovelace v. DerwinskiMaggitt v. WestQuarles v. DerwinskiRoy v. BrownScott v. BrownSee Caluza v. BrownSee Matthews v. PrincipiSee Smallwood v. BrownSee Suttmann v. Brown

Regulations Cited (38 CFR / 38 USC)

38 CFR 19.130 (1982)38 CFR 19.130 (1983)38 CFR 20.1100(b)38 CFR 20.201 (2003)38 CFR 20.302(a) (2003)38 CFR 20.302(b) (2003)38 CFR 20.303 (2003)38 CFR 3.103(f) (2003)38 CFR 3.343 (2003)38 CFR 3.350(i)(2) (2003)38 CFR 3.40038 CFR 4.16(a) (2003)38 USC 510438 USC 510838 USC 5110(a)38 USC 7104(d)(1)38 USC 7105(b)(1)38 USC 7105(d)(1)38 USC 7252(a)38 USC 7261(a)(1)

Denial Type

Credibility|Not New Material

Find Similar Precedent for Your Claim

VetAid's analyzer maps your claim against thousands of real Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions like this one — surfacing the exact case law that supports your arguments.

Run my claim through VetAid →
Sponsored
Missing the medical evidence for your VA claim? REE Medical connects veterans with independent licensed providers for nexus letters and DBQs — $50 off through this link.

Referral disclosure: VetAid earns a referral fee if you become a paying REE Medical client through this link — it helps keep this site free. REE Medical provides paid medical evidence; it is not a law firm, VSO, or claims agent, and VetAid has not independently verified its services. VSOs and VA-accredited representatives will help you file your claim at no cost, and no one can guarantee a rating increase.