The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD (bipolar disorder) was denied. A rating of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted effective July 15, 2014. The claims for increased ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to October 28, 2016 and from that date are both denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's bipolar disorder was not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his service-connected back disability, nor did it aggravate the service-connected condition. The VA examiner found no evidence of a nexus between the bipolar disorder and the service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Psychiatric disability other than PTSD (bipolar disorder), Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 27, 2023
- Citation
- 23005530
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 23005530.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and lumbar spine was granted with effective dates of May 13, 2019.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was diagnosed during service and has continued since then. The Board granted service connection for this condition based on continuity of symptomatology.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate examinations and the need for a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, is related to service and granted service connection for this condition.
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