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.
The deciding factor: The Veteran passed away during the pendency of his appeal, making it impossible to issue a decision on the merits.
- Claimed conditions
- unspecified bipolar disorder, unspecified trauma & stressor related disorder, opioid use disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 26, 2026
- Citation
- A26017673
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 A26017673.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims, including his request for a higher level review of the August 26, 2022 decision denying his claim of clear and unmistakable error in an August 16, 2013 rating decision, are being remanded. The AOJ must address whether the September 8, 2021 decision addressed his April 21, 2022 claim for a CUE.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric condition, including posttraumatic stress disorder, opioid use disorder, and stimulant use disorder, that was incurred during or is otherwise related to his period of active service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a temporary total rating due to hospital treatment more than 21 days for his service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with anxiety disorder due to another medical condition is granted, effective January 29, 2024.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance since January 22, 2018. The Board has granted an effective date of January 22, 2018 for SMC based on aid and attendance.
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