The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bipolar I disorder and entitlement to a TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from the May 2020 VA examiner.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that the most recent VA psychiatric examinations are inadequate and requires a new medical opinion on remand.
- Claimed conditions
- bipolar I disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 10, 2021
- Citation
- 21007588
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 21007588.
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 Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar I disorder, is denied as there is no evidence connecting these conditions to his military service.
- Dismissed
The appeal for an increased evaluation in excess of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD, bipolar I disorder, alcohol use disorder, and traumatic brain injury with vertigo, diplopia, and convergence insufficiency is dismissed due to a procedural defect.
- Granted
The Veteran's bipolar I disorder and alcohol use disorder are granted as service connected due to MST. PTSD is denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bipolar I disorder, finding that the condition preexisted the Veteran's military service and was not aggravated by it.
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