The Veteran's PTSD and bipolar disorder with OCD were rated at 70 percent prior to August 8, 2016. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. From August 8, 2016, the Veteran was diagnosed with bipolar disorder with severe anxious distress, PTSD with panic attacks, and OCD with focused repetitive behavior. The Board remanded these issues due to conflicting diagnoses.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating from May 7, 2014 to August 8, 2016, as they were consistent with a 50 percent rating. From August 8, 2016, his diagnoses included severe anxious distress and OCD, which led to remand of the issues.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Bipolar Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- July 13, 2021
- Citation
- 21042524
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 21042524.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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