Bipolar disorder decisions — 2005

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to incomplete medical records and need for further development, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records and potential stressor events in service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a diagnosed neuropsychiatric disorder related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar affective disorder and scoliosis due to insufficient analysis of the medical records. The Court found that the decision did not adequately discuss how the Veterans Claims Assistance Act (VCAA) duty to notify had been satisfied, particularly regarding the diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder.

The veteran's service-connected schizoaffective disorder was rated at 30 percent for the period from October 6, 1998 to August 11, 2002. The appeal is denied as his symptoms did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records from Social Security Administration and will provide an opportunity for the appellant to respond.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, residuals of a head injury with headaches, and bipolar disorder were not supported by evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for back disorder was reopened but denied on the merits.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including seeking a report of the psychiatric consultation from December 1963 and scheduling the veteran for a VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran's service-connected major depression and bipolar disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in areas such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking or mood prior to March 23, 2000. Since March 23, 2000, the disability has caused reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination and medical opinions to determine if the veteran's bipolar disorder with tardive dyskinesia is related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to insufficient evidence of an in-service personal assault and failure to provide specific details regarding the claimed incident.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the veteran's bipolar disorder is related to service or any disease/injury in service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his bipolar affective disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and therefore denied his claim. The Board also found no evidence of PTSD due to a verified stressor from service.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder and bipolar disorders, were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current psychiatric disability did not have its onset during active service and is not related to any disease or injury in service. As such, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence showing a nexus between any current psychiatric disability and active duty service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder warranted an effective date earlier than November 8, 2001, for a restoration of his 30 percent disability evaluation.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder was granted, with the effective date set at January 23, 1985.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of PTSD, a right forearm injury, and fainting spells prior to the Board's decision. The only remaining issue is the claim for service connection for bipolar disorder.