The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for unspecified bipolar disorder and headaches due to the need for new examinations to assess their current severity.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on the need for updated evaluations of the Veteran's conditions, as previous evaluations are considered too remote to be considered contemporaneous.
- Claimed conditions
- unspecified bipolar disorder, residuals of cerebral contusion with posttraumatic headaches (headaches)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 17, 2023
- Citation
- 23022411
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 23022411.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for unspecified bipolar disorder, unspecified trauma & stressor related disorder and opioid use disorder has been dismissed due to the Veteran's passing during the pendency of the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issues of major depressive disorder and unspecified bipolar disorder and alcohol use (claimed as PTSD).
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes unspecified bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder with stimulant use disorder. The decision is based on a finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder had its onset in service.
- Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 11, 2013, for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder based on new and material evidence constructively received within one year of the initial denial.
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