The Board has determined that service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive and bipolar disorders, is not warranted. Service treatment records do not document any psychiatric symptoms or diagnoses during active duty. The Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are diagnosed post-service and the VA examiner found no nexus to his in-service alcoholism. For the right hand and elbow neuropathy claims, service connection is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service. However, service connection for residuals of a right thumb laceration and a right elbow scar is granted with respective 10% ratings.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric conditions are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active duty service.
- Claimed conditions
- depressive disorder, bipolar disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 13, 2015
- Citation
- 1501536
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 1501536.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Granted
The Veteran's vascular headaches are granted effective August 22, 2011. A TDIU is granted effective February 11, 2015. SMC based on housebound criteria is denied prior to July 14, 2020.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 100% rating for depressive disorder, effective August 1, 2020, as the reduction was improper and did not comply with applicable regulations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including unspecified anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, kleptomania, and PTSD is being remanded due to the AOJ's failure to obtain medical records from his periods of incarceration or a medical opinion regarding his diagnoses.
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