The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder, as well as the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits are all denied. The effective date assigned is April 25, 2013.
The deciding factor: The effective dates for the service connection awards, TDIU rating, and DEA eligibility were set at April 25, 2013 based on when VA received the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims. The Board found that these earlier dates could not be assigned due to the procedural requirements of reopening a claim.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Bipolar disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- March 21, 2023
- Citation
- 23017721
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 23017721.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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 an effective date prior to December 27, 2019 for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no earlier claim document in the claims file and the Veteran did not timely perfect an appeal.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is granted as a result of military sexual trauma (MST) that occurred during service. The Board found the Veteran's testimony and supporting evidence credible, including her VA and private treatment records.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted with an effective date of August 17, 2022. The decision also denies the Veteran's request for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) due to lack of need for aid and attendance or being housebound.
- Granted
The Board has granted eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the October 2024 rating decision for an increased PTSD rating and denied TDIU.
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