The Veteran's initial 100 percent rating for bipolar disorder is granted, and an initial 40 percent rating for DJD of the thoracic spine is also granted. The effective date is not specified.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran experiences total occupational and social impairment due to his bipolar disorder, warranting a 100% disability rating. For the thoracic spine condition, the VA examiner found the Veteran's symptoms meet criteria for a 40 percent rating based on forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine being 30 degrees or less.
- Claimed conditions
- Bipolar Disorder, Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the Thoracic Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- June 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20042288
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 20042288.
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 Veteran's PTSD with bipolar disorder has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating effective August 8, 2018.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for a right knee condition are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ must attempt to verify the claimed stressor events and provide a VA examination.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not attributable to his active duty service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's PTSD and bipolar disorder, as well as a failure to provide an adequate VA examination prior to the rating decision.
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