Bipolar disorder decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, including bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The RO is instructed to obtain additional medical records and verify any stressors associated with service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for Bipolar Disorder and Residuals of Right Hand Injury, but denied the claim for Hypertension. The decision on whether new and material evidence was received to reopen these claims is mixed.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board denied service connection for bipolar disorder, thoracic spine disorder, and PTSD due to a lack of medical evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder with PTSD effective March 7, 2002. The veteran was previously denied a claim for this condition in September 1998 and the current grant of service connection is based on new evidence provided by VA.

The veteran's claim to reopen the issue of entitlement to TDIU benefits prior to May 1, 1998 is denied as it is legally insufficient.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to conflicting evidence in the file, and a VA psychiatric examination is needed to determine the current severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder and PTSD, finding no evidence of these conditions in service or a link to service.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder, which was previously rated at 30 percent. This decision is effective as of the date of the June 2002 rating decision.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected psoriasis. The evidence did not show a nexus between the current psychiatric disability and service or any other service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder and arthritis of the back.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Travel Board hearing. Service connection for bipolar disorder, also claimed as mixed personality disorder and paranoid personality disorder, remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to incomplete medical records and need for a clinical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disability, including whether it is related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus with onychomycosis and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder and PTSD, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current conditions and his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case to the VBA AMC for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, arranging for a VA psychiatric examination, and ensuring compliance with all VCAA notice requirements.

The veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including service connection for various conditions, an increased rating for asthma, and a need for additional medical examinations. The case is being remanded to the RO for further development.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a 100 percent evaluation for bipolar disorder with major depression, which was granted in July 1999. The Board has remanded the case to ensure compliance with VCAA requirements.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case is being remanded to further develop it by obtaining relevant medical records and arranging a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for further development regarding service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.