The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and hypertension, is rated at 70 percent disabling. The effective date for service connection of these conditions has been set to April 6, 2009. The Board also granted the Veteran a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's psychiatric symptoms have caused significant impairment in work and social functioning, warranting a higher rating than what was previously assigned. His bipolar disorder has been reopened on new evidence, leading to an earlier effective date for service connection. The Board also found that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder, Bipolar disorder, Hypertension
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20023668
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 20023668.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
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