Bipolar disorder decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of the veteran's duty status on June 25, 1989 and compliance with Veterans Claims Assistance Act requirements.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding no causal link between his current conditions and his military service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for bipolar disorder is not granted, and the veteran's rating for this condition remains at 30 percent. The veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to his symptoms being within the range considered 'stable' by VA psychiatrists.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, which is a combination of bipolar disorder and PTSD secondary to childhood physical/sexual abuse. The pre-existing PTSD was found to have been aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VCAA notice and the need for a new VA examination.

The veteran's bipolar disorder has been productive of impairment compatible with no more than occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress. The veteran was treated for a period of more than 21 days for service-connected disability during the period of hospitalization from September 25, 1997 to October 22, 1997.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD with secondary bipolar disorder and depression, as well as the issues of entitlement to special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance and TDIU.,No specific rating was assigned in this decision.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, and heart disorders. The RO previously denied these claims in June 1994 without providing VCAA notice.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for dysthymia with episodes of major depression and insomnia, as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 9433.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current psychiatric disability is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder with PTSD, but assigned a December 4, 2000 effective date. The veteran's claim to reopen the issue of service connection for PTSD was received on December 4, 2000.

The veteran's PTSD with bipolar affective disorder is productive of incapacitating symptoms resulting in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating from the date of claim on February 7, 1997.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, anxiety neurosis, and personality disorder due to new evidence submitted since the February 1999 RO decision.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current psychiatric condition, including bipolar disorder, to service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found insufficient evidence to establish service connection for bipolar disorder or PTSD, and denied both claims.

The Board granted service connection for bipolar disorder and assigned a disability rating of 50 percent, finding that the evidence supported this level of disability based on significant depression, emotional distress, and feelings of helplessness.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability and concluded that bipolar affective disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bipolar disorder, and various skin conditions are denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain VA medical records and to determine whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for bipolar disorder. If new and material evidence is found, the issue will be reconsidered.