Bipolar disorder decisions — 2000

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current bipolar disorder to his service, and thus denied the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder as secondary to PTSD and an increased rating for PTSD prior to April 8, 1996.

The Board has determined that the veteran's atypical psychosis disorder, when evaluated under the current rating criteria, meets the criteria for a 70 percent evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's claim of service connection for a bipolar disorder was not well-grounded and denied it.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of the veteran's bipolar disorder to 50 percent, effective from December 28, 1998.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for bipolar disorder and found that the veteran's major depression produces severe impairment in his ability to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bipolar disorder was aggravated by service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, but finds that there is no new and material evidence to support the reopening. The Board also concludes that the veteran's current psychiatric disorders are not well grounded as they do not have a direct relationship with his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for bipolar disorder and depression, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his period of active duty service.

The veteran's bipolar disorder was rated at 30 percent effective from November 7, 1996.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's death to his service or any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of her dysthymia is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a social and industrial survey. The case will also be reviewed to determine if she should receive a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's service-connected bipolar affective disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating based on the current evidence.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bipolar disorder and denied it as not well grounded, finding that new evidence does not show a link between the appellant's current condition and his military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a neuropsychiatric disability and is now considering whether the claim is well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his 10% rating for bipolar disorder with anxiety. The decision stated that no CUE was found in prior decisions and that the evidence did not support an earlier effective date.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for chronic acquired psychiatric disability, currently diagnosed as bipolar disorder. The evidence did not show that his current condition was related to active service.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current psychiatric condition to an incident of service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder increased in severity as a result of conflicts with staff at the VA golf course, leading to an exacerbation of his conditions. The Board found that these aggravations were due to VA treatment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is not well-grounded. The claim fails because there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and the evidence does not establish a link between any diagnosed condition and service.