The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, brain tumor, and anxiety disorder was denied.,Service connection for migraines and bipolar I disorder was granted with an effective date prior to October 8, 2013. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraines and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) were also denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for dizziness was remanded.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence of a brain tumor in the record, and the Veteran’s anxiety disorder is attributable to his already service-connected bipolar I disorder. The Board found that there was insufficient medical evidence to support separate diagnoses.,The effective date for service connection for migraines and bipolar I disorder was granted prior to October 8, 2013 due to the Veteran's timely claim. However, the Veteran’s TDIU claim is not before the Board as it does not encompass the current appeal period.,Service connection for dizziness was remanded because there were insufficient medical records to support a finding of service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, Brain tumor, Anxiety disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19132102
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 Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, recurrent depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and unspecified bipolar and related disorder based on credible evidence of in-service stressors and continuous symptoms since service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, other than posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), variously diagnosed as major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder, and panic disorder.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder as the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder related to his service.
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