The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation in excess of 50 percent for bipolar I disorder was denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms, including depression, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, and problems with relationships, resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's bipolar I disorder manifested as depressive episodes, anhedonia, low motivation, isolation, hypersomnia, increased appetite, and ongoing suicidal ideation. The symptoms led to significant impairment in work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.
- Claimed conditions
- Bipolar I Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- April 12, 2021
- Citation
- 21021344
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 21021344.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Bipolar I Disorder and a Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current mental health conditions are due to events during his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for PTSD and bipolar disorder was granted with an effective date of April 2, 2018. The decision acknowledges that the initial denial in January 2015 became final but finds that the Veteran continuously pursued his claims since filing a formal intent to file on April 2, 2018.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of February 22, 2021, for the award of service connection for PTSD with bipolar I disorder is granted.,The issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the December 1, 1998 rating decision denying service connection for schizoaffective disorder is remanded.
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