Bipolar disorder decisions — 2003

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The veteran's bipolar/dysthymic disorder is not considered to be due to VA treatment in 1991, and the Board finds no negligence on the part of VA. The veteran's condition was masked by his alcoholism and withdrawal.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder as secondary to the veteran's service-connected left shoulder disorder. Service connection for impairment of the left wrist and hand is denied, as there is no evidence linking this condition to his service-connected disabilities. The evaluation for limited supination of the left elbow remains at zero percent.

The VA granted service connection for bipolar disorder and assigned a 30 percent rating from December 5, 1994 to November 6, 1996.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including bipolar and manic depression, and an increased rating for bronchitis. The denial of both claims is based on insufficient evidence to establish service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and PTSD, finding that no evidence linked these conditions to his military service.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination in order to determine if the veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include manic depression and bipolar disorder, which was either present during service or otherwise related to his service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of March 13, 1990, for the grant of service connection for bipolar affective disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance of another person, finding that there was no evidence of regular need for such assistance prior to July 10, 1996.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder, finding that there is a preponderance of evidence supporting this claim.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 14, 1997 for the grant of service connection for a psychiatric disorder was denied as there is no legal basis to award such a retroactive effective date.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, and her claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to lack of legal merit.

The Board has determined that the evidence submitted after the last final decision in March 1988 is new but not material, and therefore does not meet the criteria to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of bipolar disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder and assigned a 30 percent rating, effective January 3, 1997. The veteran's symptoms are currently mild with occasional periods of increased severity.

The Board found that the October 1993 administrative decision was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, as there were no errors in fact or law that would have changed the outcome.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date of April 24, 1995, for the assignment of a schedular 100 percent evaluation for service-connected bipolar disorder is warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's son, R., may not be recognized as a 'helpless child' on the basis of permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining the age of eighteen.

The Board found that the veteran's bipolar disorder is not related to his service and denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and viral meningitis. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current psychiatric disorder related to service, and the claim for viral meningitis was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.