Bipolar disorder decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA psychiatric examination and asking the veteran to provide information about any in-service stressors.

The Board has expanded the issue to include a request for service connection for a mood disorder and/or depression as a result of a closed head injury in service. The veteran's claim on appeal is being remanded due to additional evidence received, including a December 2003 private psychiatric opinion.

The Board denied service connection for bipolar disorder and did not address the issue of an increased evaluation for perianal abscesses. The veteran's bipolar disorder was found to have first manifested many years after active service, and it is not related to service or any incident therein.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the January 1991 rating decision is not new and material, thus denying the petitions to reopen claims of service connection for a back disorder, left arm and elbow disorder, and bipolar disorder.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 and other necessary actions, including notification and development of evidence.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his bipolar disorder is being remanded due to procedural errors in notification and assistance.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bipolar disorder, bilateral hearing loss, rare premature ventricular contractions, and right knee tendonitis due to a lack of medical evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to assess the severity of his bipolar disorder and for readjudication of both his rating claim and TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the appellant's claim for service connection for a nervous disorder, including bipolar disorder. The requirements to reopen the claim have been met.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to provide VCAA notice and because VA treatment records are needed for consideration of the veteran's claim.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that the veteran did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and that his current psychiatric conditions are not related to his period of honorable service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have bipolar disorder related to his active service.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional evidence and conduct further examinations, including a psychiatric examination by a VA psychiatrist. The appellant's claims for service connection for psychiatric disorders (including bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorder, depression, and agoraphobia) and genitourinary disorders (including frequent urination) will be evaluated based on the new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that the veteran's schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type did not have its onset during active service or within the first post-service year and is not etiologically related to service.

The Board has determined that the reduction from a 50% evaluation to a 30% evaluation for bipolar disorder, effective May 1, 2000, was proper.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability and bipolar disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions as being incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and compliance with VCAA requirements.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current bipolar disorder to his period of active service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.