Bipolar disorder decisions — 2000

The veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder is rated at 100 percent disabling, rendering him totally disabled and unable to work.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bipolar disorder was incurred in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board granted service connection for schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type effective October 10, 1979. The veteran's claim was reopened and the effective date of his grant of service connection is set at this date.

The veteran's appeal was not timely filed, resulting in the denial of his request for an increased evaluation for bipolar disorder.

The Board found no competent evidence linking the veteran's current diagnoses of bipolar/manic disorder and bulimia to a gastric bypass surgery performed by VA in 1974, thus denying his claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board granted a higher rating of 70% for bipolar disorder, effective from May 25, 1999. The veteran's symptoms worsened significantly after he separated from his wife and began living alone.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim.

The Board found that the evidence did not establish a nexus between the veteran's current bipolar disorder and her military service, thus denying her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bipolar affective disorder does not warrant an increased disability evaluation or individual unemployability based on service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's kidney insufficiency is secondary to his service-connected bipolar disorder and grants the claim.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for her psychiatric disorder, specifically major depression with psychotic features and mixed bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including a comprehensive VA psychiatric examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and increased evaluations for her bilateral foot disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision found no evidence of a diagnosis of PTSD, and denied all other claims based on existing criteria.

The veteran's PTSD and bipolar disorder have been found to be productive of severe impairment in the ability to establish and maintain effective or favorable relationships with people, warranting an initial increased evaluation of 70 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar affective disorder/depression is not well grounded and denied both his claims for service connection and increased rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals of injuries to his right little and ring fingers, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The claim for a noncompensable rating for residuals of laceration to the right little finger was granted with an effective date of August 29, 1974.

The veteran's bipolar disorder has been rated at 100 percent effective from February 1, 1995 due to complete social and industrial inadaptability.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person was denied as he does not suffer from disabilities that render him so nearly helpless as to need such assistance.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder, finding that the correct effective date is April 10, 1991.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and review the issues of service connection for bipolar disorder and whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of PTSD.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, is not well grounded. There is no competent evidence showing disability resulting from an acquired psychiatric disorder during service or of a psychosis within the presumptive period after service.