On June 2, 1972, a VA medical examiner reported a diagnosis of "schizophrenia, chronic, undifferentiated. He is actively psychotic." R. at 4. The veteran was hospitalized for this condition from August 18, 1972, to October 4, 1972. R. at 5. He moved from his sister's home in Maryland to California in 1975, and apparently began treatment at the VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Long Beach, California, in 1976, in addition to private therapy. R. at 6. He was again hospitalized from March 12, 1979, to April 30, 1979, at the VAMC in Long Beach. R. at 7-8.

A Mental Status Examination was performed on January 17, 1980, which revealed: "The veteran is acutely psychotic during the interview and his judgment is highly impaired. He has no ability to concentrate and is unemployable at the present time." R. at 9. The final diagnosis was schizophrenia, chronic undifferentiated type. On February 6, 1981, a Compensation and Pension Report concluded with a diagnosis of "Schizophrenia, chronic, undifferentiated type, competent," and the statement, "It is questionable whether this veteran can hold on to any type of employment." R. at 11. Apparently based on the February examination, on May 7, 1981, the VARO in Los Angeles, California, reduced appellant's disability rating for schizophrenic reaction, undifferentiated type, from 100% to 70% effective from August 1, 1981. The rating board concluded: "Veteran is not shown to be unemployable primarily because of [service-connected] condition." R. at 12.

A rating decision of November 17, 1982, indicates that appellant was hospitalized for his service-connected condition effective from September 30, 1982, to November 3, 1982, and was consequently awarded a 100% disability rating from September 30, 1982, and then reduced back to a 70% disability rating effective December 1, 1982. R. at 15. Appellant was again hospitalized for several days in November 1985, and then returned to the board and care home where he had been living. R. at 17. On December 4, 1986, the diagnosis of schizophrenia, chronic, undifferentiated type, was continued. R. at 18.