Bipolar disorder decisions — 2001

The Board has determined that the veteran incurred bipolar disorder during his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bipolar disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the previous denial in August 1993.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder. Further development is needed, including a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a nervous disorder, as new and material evidence has been submitted. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety, were not incurred or aggravated during his active service. The evidence does not show a nexus between any current psychiatric condition and his military service.

The veteran's unauthorized private hospitalization and care from June 27 to July 7, 1998 was deemed appropriate due to the nature of his ongoing medical needs related to his service-connected psychiatric disability. VA facilities were not feasibly available for transfer at that time.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and a bipolar disorder effective January 31, 1989. The veteran's current rating of 30 percent for these conditions remains unchanged.

The Board found that the veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations and did not cooperate with VA, thus abandoning his claim. As a result, the claim of service connection for bipolar disorder was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that her pre-existing conditions did not worsen during service and were not related to service.

The Board found that the veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders were not present during service or for years thereafter, and they were not caused by any incident of service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder in July 1978. The new evidence submitted since then is not considered material or significant enough to reopen the case.

The VA has continued the current 30 percent rating for bipolar disorder, finding that the veteran's symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and remanded it for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar affective disorder, acute adjustment disorder, and post menstrual syndrome in December 1986. The veteran did not timely file a notice of disagreement or appeal this decision. In April 1995, her claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted by her, and she was granted service connection for bipolar disorder with an effective date of April 16, 1991.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder was denied as not well grounded. The RO granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 50% rating, effective from April 1997.

The veteran's initial rating for bipolar disorder is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The veteran's initial compensable rating for sinusitis/allergic rhinitis is granted based on moderate symptoms.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes is being remanded due to the need for additional development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with bipolar disorder and assigned a 50% evaluation, effective from June 30, 1997. The appellant's claim of an earlier effective date is denied.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for bipolar disorder from February 7, 2000. The appellant's condition was previously rated at 30 percent since July 22, 1999.

The Board has determined that the veteran's multiple disabilities, including bipolar disorder and cervical spondylosis, render him permanently and totally unemployable, thus warranting a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.