The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for bipolar disorder with psychotic features was granted, as his informal claim dated October 19, 1994, is considered the earliest assignable date.
The deciding factor: The Veteran submitted a formal or informal claim on October 19, 1994, which VA construed as an attempt to reopen and substantiate his previously denied service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- bipolar disorder with psychotic features
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 15, 2010
- Citation
- 1009706
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 1009706.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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 Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including posttraumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorders. The evidence supports the conclusion that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's bipolar disorder with psychotic features is not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking it to his military service.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Veteran's left breast scar and status post fibroadenoma surgical excision are rated at the maximum allowed. The bipolar disorder with psychotic features remains at a 100% rating, but service connection for shoulder and ankle disorders is remanded.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 30, 2020, for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic arthritis of the left-hand long finger but denied earlier effective dates for other claims.
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