The Veteran's bipolar disorder, status post right lumbar surgery with post voiding leakage, and other service-connected conditions are all denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating for any of these disabilities.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not demonstrate symptoms that would warrant a higher than 70 percent disability rating for bipolar disorder or a higher than 40 percent disability rating for status post right lumbar surgery with post voiding leakage, among other service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Bipolar disorder, Status post right lumbar hemilaminectomy and discectomy L5-S1 surgery with post voiding leakage, Residual of distal L5-S1 sensory deficit of the right lower extremity associated with status post right lumbar hemilaminectomy and discectomy L5-S1 surgery with post voiding leakage, Retropatellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Hemorrhoids
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 13, 2019
- Citation
- 19118172
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,480 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19118172.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for Dupuytren's contracture of the left hand, right hand, and GERD is remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions and failure to consider toxic exposure risk activities during service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, but the Board found that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that both conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lower back condition and sinusitis, respectively.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied service connection for bladder cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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