The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeals for service connection for a heart condition, increased ratings for tinnitus and hearing loss, special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance, compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service connected disability (TDIU) have been withdrawn. The Board also found that the Veteran's bipolar disorder prior to May 1, 2014, warranted a 50 percent rating, but not higher; from May 1, 2014 forward, it warrants a 70 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 30 percent prior to May 1, 2014, and 70 percent thereafter.
- Claimed conditions
- Bipolar Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 24, 2017
- Citation
- 1705628
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 1705628.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD with bipolar disorder has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating effective August 8, 2018.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for a right knee condition are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ must attempt to verify the claimed stressor events and provide a VA examination.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not attributable to his active duty service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's PTSD and bipolar disorder, as well as a failure to provide an adequate VA examination prior to the rating decision.
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