The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The issues of secondary service connection for lumbosacral strain, service connection for fibroids, and hypertension are remanded.,An effective date prior to September 30, 2013, for the increase in ratings for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and headaches is denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence received since the February 2009 rating decision includes a VA medical opinion and hearing testimony from an August 2019 Board hearing. This evidence relates to an unsubstantiated fact (incurrence of mental disorder symptoms during active duty) that is necessary to substantiate the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.,There is no evidence of formal or informal claims for increased ratings prior to September 30, 2013, and the increase in ratings was not ascertainable within one year before receipt of the claims. The medical records do not show symptomatology warranting a rating in excess of 10% or 50% prior to September 30, 2013.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (including bipolar disorder and multiple personality disorder), Lumbosacral strain, Fibroids, Hypertension
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20033647
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 20033647.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for hypertension effective December 1, 2025 and denied a rating in excess of 10%. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.
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