13-21 943, 13-21 943

Veteran served 1950–1953 and is service-connected for schizophrenia (rated 50%) and a noncompensable right fifth metacarpal fracture; he applied in January 2011 for an increased rating for schizophrenia and later raised TDIU.
VA provided a March 2011 mental health examination (GAF 70) finding mild symptoms, intact memory/judgment/insight, and no delusions or hallucinations; examiner concluded symptoms did not interfere with occupational or social functioning.
VA treatment records through 2013 show intermittent adjustment/depressive symptoms after a 2012 MVA, but generally euthymic mood, social engagement (church, relationships), and no hospitalization or marked functional deficits.
Veteran submitted lay statements reporting worsening and financial hardship but declined a December 2016 VA examination offered on remand.
The Board reviewed the record, found the evidentiary development adequate, and concluded the 50% schedular rating accurately reflects the disability; it also denied extraschedular referral and TDIU.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Entitlement to >50% rating for schizophrenia	Veteran: psychiatric symptoms worse than reflected in March 2011 exam; functional impairments not externally obvious	VA/Board: medical and treatment records show only mild-to-moderate symptoms (GAF 70), functioning maintained in social settings; no evidence meeting 70%/100% criteria	Denied — 50% rating affirmed (symptoms do not meet criteria for 70% or 100%)
Entitlement to TDIU	Veteran: service-connected schizophrenia renders him unable to secure/ follow substantially gainful employment	VA/Board: combined service-connected rating 50% (below schedular thresholds) and medical record does not show unemployability due solely to service-connected conditions	Denied — neither schedular nor extraschedular TDIU warranted

Mauerhan v. Principi, 16 Vet. App. 436 (explains §4.130 symptom examples are illustrative and all symptoms affecting occupational/social impairment must be considered)
Vazquez‑Claudio v. Shinseki, 713 F.3d 112 (Fed. Cir.) (requires showing particular symptoms associated with a rating or others of similar severity/frequency/duration)
Rice v. Shinseki, 22 Vet. App. 447 (VA must consider TDIU when evidence reasonably raises unemployability issue)
Thun v. Peake, 22 Vet. App. 111 (three-step extraschedular analysis)
Hart v. Mansfield, 21 Vet. App. 505 (staged ratings when distinct time periods warrant different evaluations)
Woehlaert v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 456 (lay evidence vs. medical complexity — competency limits)
Carpenter v. Brown, 8 Vet. App. 240 (GAF scores relevant as part of overall disability picture)
Gonzales v. West, 218 F.3d 1378 (no need to discuss every piece of record evidence in detail)
Hatlestad v. Brown, 5 Vet. App. 524 (central inquiry for TDIU is whether service‑connected disabilities alone produce unemployability)
Norris v. West, 12 Vet. App. 413 (TDIU is an alternate way to obtain total disability absent a 100% schedular rating)
Gilbert v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 49 (benefit‑of‑the‑doubt standard and its application)
Ortiz v. Principi, 274 F.3d 1361 (addressing evaluation and benefits standards)
Stegall v. West, 11 Vet. App. 268 (Board’s duty to ensure compliance with remand instructions)