The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bipolar disorder is granted for the period prior to April 17, 2017. For the period beginning April 17, 2017, the claim is denied as there is no evidence of total occupational and social impairment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms since April 17, 2017 do not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating due to lack of gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting oneself or others; disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name; and the intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living.
- Claimed conditions
- unspecified bipolar disorder, any acquired psychiatric disorder to include bipolar disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- November 29, 2018
- Citation
- 18154104
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 18154104.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for unspecified bipolar disorder, unspecified trauma & stressor related disorder and opioid use disorder has been dismissed due to the Veteran's passing during the pendency of the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issues of major depressive disorder and unspecified bipolar disorder and alcohol use (claimed as PTSD).
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes unspecified bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder with stimulant use disorder. The decision is based on a finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder had its onset in service.
- Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 11, 2013, for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder based on new and material evidence constructively received within one year of the initial denial.
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