The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for macular degeneration and Parkinson’s Disease are remanded due to potential exposure to herbicide agents, including TCE, during his military service. The Board will defer adjudication of the remaining psychiatric claims until the development on these claims is completed.,The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need of aid and attendance of another person is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims being remanded.
The deciding factor: There is no current diagnosis of bipolar disorder, which is a key element in establishing service connection.,The Veteran's claims for macular degeneration and Parkinson’s Disease are remanded due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during his military service. The Board will defer adjudication of the remaining psychiatric claims until the development on these claims is completed.,The Veteran's claim for SMC is inextricably intertwined with the other claims being remanded, so it will be deferred until the development on those claims is completed.
- Claimed conditions
- bipolar disorder, macular degeneration, Parkinson's Disease, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20003934
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.
- Granted
The Board granted a disability rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as depressive disorder, effective May 1, 2017.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of December 12, 2023, for a 50 percent evaluation of bipolar disorder and remanded the other issues for further development.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for depression, PTSD, and an anxiety disorder due to the lack of a current diagnosis.
- Partly granted
The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for anxiety disorder and denied service connection for hearing loss. The claims for service connection for GERD, right ankle limitations, and sinusitis were remanded for further development.
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