The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (Bipolar Disorder) and polycarbonate abuse, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service or any incident therein.
The deciding factor: Service records do not show a diagnosis of bipolar disorder during service. The most probative evidence indicates that the appellant's post-service psychiatric disability is not causally related to his active service or any incident therein.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (Bipolar Disorder), Polysubstance Abuse
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 31, 2009
- Citation
- 0911945
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 0911945.
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 acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically bipolar disorder, is rated at 70 percent from April 25, 2012 to August 10, 2014 and from October 1, 2014 to June 17, 2024. The rating of 70 percent reflects the severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, near-continuous panic, chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss, flattened affect, disturbances in motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene. The Veteran does not have a service connection theory involving the PACT Act or Agent Orange exposure.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent disability rating for his depressive disorder NOS with anxiety and polysubstance abuse was denied. The claim for Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) was also denied.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD with polysubstance abuse and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment warranting a higher disability rating.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of service connection (October 26, 2007), and his TDIU claim is granted.
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