The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the claims for service connection for various conditions, including bipolar disorder and its secondary effects. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.
The deciding factor: The Board found insufficient evidence in the previous VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, particularly given the Veteran's reported symptoms prior to 1988.
- Claimed conditions
- bipolar disorder, double vision, ulcers, renal disorder, memory problems, Parkinson’s disease, partial finger amputation
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19175054
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 19175054.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error regarding the etiology of memory and concentration problems, which were not adequately addressed in the March 2021 VA examination. The Veteran's service-connected headaches may be related to an in-service head injury, and post-service records document reported memory issues.
- Granted
The Veteran's bipolar disorder was rated at 50% and then reduced to 30%. The Board has now granted a 70% rating effective November 23, 2021, based on the improvement in her symptoms.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in loss of use of both feet, which qualifies her for an allowance for an automobile and adaptive equipment.
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