The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that the veteran's schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type did not have its onset during active service or within the first post-service year and is not etiologically related to service.
The deciding factor: There was no competent evidence showing a nexus between the appellant's current psychiatric diagnosis and her military service.
- Claimed conditions
- schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 23, 2004
- Citation
- 0404989
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,977 · Granted: 27% (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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0404989.
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 schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas from November 15, 2016, to August 10, 2021.,Beginning August 11, 2021, the disability caused total occupational and social impairment.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type was dismissed due to her death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
Your claim for service connection for a schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, was granted effective October 25, 2024. The appeal is dismissed as the full benefit sought has been granted.
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