CAVC Case 04-0093: Psychiatric

CAVCReal U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) decision · November 15, 2006 · HAGEL

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
Remanded / Vacated
Decision Date
November 15, 2006
Judge
HAGEL
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

A medical board found him medically unfit for further military duty and recommended that he be referred to a physical evaluation board and transferred to a VA hospital.

Diagnosis was carried forward to give the veteran the benefit of the doubt.

In a December 14, 1990, Board decision, service connection for schizophrenia was granted based on the Board's finding that new and material evidence had been submitted to establish that a psychosis was incurred in service.

The Board determined that the 1981 Board decision did not contain CUE.

Thus, he maintains that a certifying physician's opinion that a prior diagnosis was clearly erroneous is merely another opinion added to the mix and consequently does not establish the degree of indisputability required to establish CUE.

He also argues that the 1981 Board erred when it discounted two schizophrenia diagnoses made subsequent to the certifying physician's opinion that the original diagnosis was in error.

Finally, he maintains that the 1981 Board failed to properly apply the appropriate standard for severance of service connection.

The claimant must provide some degree of specificity as to what the alleged error is and, unless it is the kind of error that, if true, would be CUE on its face, "persuasive reasons must be given as to why the result would have been manifestly different but for the alleged error.

Authorities Cited

Baughman v. DerwinskiBustos v. WestCoburn v. NicholsonDamrel v. BrownFugo v. BrownGraves v. BrownGrover v. WestKarnas v. DerwinskiLane v. PrincipiRussell v. PrincipiSee Joyce v. NicholsonSee Matthews v. NicholsonSee Sutton v. NicholsonVenturella v. GoberVeterans v. GoberWilson v. West

Regulations Cited (38 CFR / 38 USC)

38 CFR 20.1403(a) (2006)38 CFR 3.10538 CFR 3.105(d)38 CFR 3.105(d) (1980)38 CFR 3.105(d) (2006)38 USC 510938 USC 7104(d)(1)38 USC 725238 USC 7252(a)38 USC 7261(a)(3)

Denial Type

Not New Material|Cue

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.