The Board denied an initial increased rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder with bipolar disorder and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's acquired psychiatric symptoms did not result in total social and occupational impairment, and his service-connected disability was not shown to render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with Bipolar Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 7, 2025
- Citation
- A25041586
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 899 · Granted: 45% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A25041586.
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 PTSD with bipolar disorder was granted an increased disability rating of 70 percent, effective from October 1, 2020. The decision found that the Veteran's symptoms and impairment more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas throughout the entire appeal period.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's PTSD with bipolar disorder is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating. He also received a grant for TDIU.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's PTSD with bipolar disorder has worsened, and additional evidence is needed to determine the appropriate disability rating.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a travel board hearing.
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