The Veteran's bipolar II disorder is now rated at 100 percent effective November 6, 2016. The low back disability is now rated at 40 percent effective April 15, 2014. GERD and Parkinsonism are both service-connected.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's bipolar II disorder caused total occupational and social impairment beginning on November 6, 2016, warranting a 100% rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders from that date onward. The low back disability was rated at 40 percent prior to June 9, 2021, based on incapacitating episodes and limitation of motion.
- Claimed conditions
- Bipolar II Disorder, Low Back Disability (Lumbosacral Strain), Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Parkinsonism
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- October 27, 2021
- Citation
- 21065842
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 21065842.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for GERD as it was aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, but denied service connection for ED due to a lack of evidence showing a current diagnosis. The issue of entitlement to service connection for anxiety is remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and denied service connection for left foot tendonitis. The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis were rated in excess of 10 percent and 50 percent, respectively.
- Granted
The Board granted a 10 percent evaluation for the Veteran's GERD, finding that his condition is productive of daily medications to control dysphagia and is otherwise asymptomatic.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD and remanded the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a back disability, and sinusitis.
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