The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bipolar effective disorder was denied as there is no factually ascertainable increase in disability during the one-year period prior to her May 22, 2014 contact.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for benign tumor of the right occipital area with left homonymous upper quadrantanopsia was denied as there is no factually ascertainable increase in disability during the one-year period prior to her May 22, 2014 contact.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for sacroiliac strain was denied as there is no factually ascertainable increase in disability during the one-year period prior to her May 22, 2014 contact.
The deciding factor: There were no facts that could be determined to have occurred within a year of the Veteran's claim for increased ratings which would warrant an earlier effective date.
- Claimed conditions
- bipolar effective disorder, benign tumor of the right occipital area with left homonymous upper quadrantanopsia, sacroiliac strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20001270
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,088 · Granted: 33% (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 20001270.
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 Board has remanded two issues: increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and sacroiliac strain, as well as an increased rating for plantar fasciitis of the right foot. The decision does not address service connection theory or exposure basis.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for the service-connected sacroiliac strain has been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal in October 2021.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has expanded the Veteran's claim to include sacroiliac strain, spondylolisthesis of the fifth lumbar vertebra, osteoarthritis, and degenerative changes with radiculopathy. The case is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.
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