The Veteran's bipolar disorder is granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities.,A rating in excess of 30 percent for the right foot disability is denied.,An earlier effective date for a 30 percent rating for the right foot disability is denied.,Effective dates prior to February 13, 2018, for noncompensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's bipolar disorder was aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.,There is no evidence of actual loss of use of the right foot.,No award with regard to an effective date in the October 2018 decision regarding a right foot disability was made, making any challenge invalid.,There are no communications prior to February 13, 2018, that can be construed as claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.
- Claimed conditions
- bipolar disorder, right foot disability, sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- June 5, 2020
- Citation
- 20038603
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 20038603.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease manifesting within one year after service and concluding that the current disability is not related to his in-service deviated septum.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine if his current sleep disorder is related to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further development.
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