The VA has granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbosacral spine, effective December 1997. The claim for secondary service connection for bipolar disorder is also granted.
The deciding factor: The VA found that the veteran's bipolar disorder was aggravated by his service-connected DJD of the lumbosacral spine and awarded a higher rating based on this aggravation.
- Claimed conditions
- Bipolar Disorder, Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the Lumbosacral Spine
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- July 2, 2002
- Citation
- 0207224
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 0207224.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for ADHD, finding that it clearly and unmistakably preexisted the Veteran's service but was aggravated by military service. The claim for bipolar disorder was remanded for further development.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including bipolar disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case for a new examination with an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service.
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