The Veteran's bipolar mood disorder with panic disorder, agoraphobia, and alcohol dependence was characterized by symptoms such as insomnia, severe sleep disturbance, anxious affect, paranoid ideation, distorted judgment, panic attacks, poor concentration, short-term memory impairment, and suicidal ideation prior to January 30, 2008.,As of January 30, 2008 and prior to November 4, 2009, the Veteran's bipolar mood disorder was characterized by prescribed medications, anxiety, daily panic attacks, severe depression, sleep impairment, and chronic suicidal ideation.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as it only showed reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, impaired abstract thinking, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships.
- Claimed conditions
- Bipolar Mood Disorder with Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, and Alcohol Dependence
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 29, 2011
- Citation
- 1143497
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 1143497.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.