The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, did not manifest in service or for many years thereafter and currently diagnosed bipolar disorder was not caused by active service.
The deciding factor: VA examiners concluded that bipolar disorder is more likely due to a family history of bipolar disorder rather than military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 7, 2017
- Citation
- 1706984
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 1706984.
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 Board has granted service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service fear of hostile military or terrorist activity.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the record, including inadequate VA opinions and conflicting medical evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric diagnoses. The Veteran is requested to undergo a VA examination to clarify the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorders.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD and migraine headaches as the evidence did not support a separate diagnosis or additional symptomatology. The left knee strain issue was remanded for further development.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, as the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active military service.
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