The Veteran's request for self-employment assistance through Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) was granted. The Veteran is service-connected for various disabilities, including bipolar disorder rated at 100 percent disabling, which qualifies him as having the most severe disability. His other conditions also qualify him for Category I VR&E services due to his employment handicap and limitations.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's bipolar disorder, rated at 100 percent disabling, qualified him as having the most severe service-connected disability, necessitating self-employment as a suitable vocational goal.
- Claimed conditions
- bipolar disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, tension headaches, type II diabetes mellitus, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve, right shoulder bicipital tendonitis, left shoulder bicipital tendonitis, left wrist tendonitis status post fracture, left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, tinnitus, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease, right wrist tendonitis, right knee strain, left knee strain, ankle osteoarthritis, right tibiofibular fracture, lumbar spine strain, right ear hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, benign or malignant neoplasm of the respiratory system, erectile dysfunction, tinea pedis, dry skin plantar feet, acne with trunk and thigh scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- October 8, 2020
- Citation
- A20015360
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, right wrist strain, and TBI. The Veteran's PTSD rating was remanded for further development.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine pain, allergic rhinitis, and recurrent yeast infections. The claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder with alcohol use disorder and left knee pain were remanded.
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