The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bipolar disorder, depressive type should be granted as his application to reopen was received on July 8, 1997. The effective date is set at this date.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the veteran submitted a new and material application to reopen his claim for service connection in July 1997, which triggered VA's duty to assist in substantiating his claim. The earliest indication of his psychiatric disability being related to service was found in the available treatment records dating back to service.
- Claimed conditions
- bipolar disorder, depressive type
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 11, 2007
- Citation
- 0710456
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 0710456.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board has reopened the claim for bipolar disorder, depressive type. The PTSD and Meniere's disease with hearing loss and tinnitus claims are pending.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board is remanding the claims for service connection for bipolar disorder, depressive type and Meniere's disease with hearing loss and tinnitus to allow the veteran to provide new evidence that would reopen her claims.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeal is granted as his PTSD is now considered service-connected.
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