The veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically major depression and bipolar disorder, was productive of occupational and social impairment prior to March 23, 2000. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 70 percent.
The deciding factor: The veteran's symptoms were consistent with a 70 percent disability rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, which requires occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to such symptoms as suicidal ideation, near-continuous panic or depression affecting ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively, and impaired impulse control.
- Claimed conditions
- major depression, bipolar disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- December 11, 2002
- Citation
- 0217936
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 0217936.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for major depression, personality disorder, and severe anxiety due to an inadequate VA examination and opinion.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of December 12, 2023, for a 50 percent evaluation of bipolar disorder and remanded the other issues for further development.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired mental health condition, to include major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, based on new evidence.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bipolar disorder and denied increased ratings for the lumbar disability, left and right sciatica, and chronic sinusitis. However, it granted an increased rating of 40 percent from March 7, 2022, for left and right sciatic radiculopathy and restored a 30 percent rating for chronic sinusitis.
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