The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder NOS, finding that there is a balance of evidence indicating it had its onset during active service.
The deciding factor: The treating psychiatrist concluded that the Veteran’s behavior changes during her service are consistent with the onset of bipolar disorder and supported this conclusion with an adequate rationale.
- Claimed conditions
- bipolar disorder NOS
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19188791
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,020 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19188791.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records and an addendum opinion from a VA clinician regarding whether his psychiatric disorders are related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, sinusitis, sleep apnea, hypertension, chest pain, a dental disorder for treatment purposes, and ear disability. The issues are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional VA examinations.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for drug and alcohol abuse as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder. The decision also deferred adjudication of issues regarding heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and TDIU due to inextricably intertwined nature with the primary claim.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is granted. The claim for PTSD is also granted. The issue of TDIU is remanded.
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.