Bipolar disorder decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and original disability ratings in several cases, including bilateral hearing loss, PTSD with bipolar disorder, right knee tendonitis, lumbar strain, acne vulgaris, and pes planus.

The veteran's schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, was initially rated at 30 percent for the period from October 6, 1998 to August 11, 2002.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected schizoaffective disorder are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence, and the case is inextricably intertwined with other issues on appeal.

The Board granted service connection for bipolar affective disorder and assigned a 70 percent disability rating, effective from July 31, 1991. The TDIU was also granted with the same effective date.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of his bipolar disorder with schizophrenia is granted, and he is now rated at 100 percent disabling effective from December 8, 2004. The issue regarding an earlier effective date for TDIU remains pending.

The veteran's claims for a higher rating for her prolapsed uterus and service connection for bipolar disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence of current or complete uterine prolapse, and the pre-existing psychiatric condition was not shown to have been aggravated by active duty.

The Board found that there is no competent evidence showing an acquired psychiatric disorder during service, or within one year of separation. The veteran's current psychiatric disorders are not related to her active military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a bipolar disorder and granted it, finding that new evidence supports the claim.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing at the RO closest to his current residence in Newport News, Virginia.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for bipolar disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and dental/mandible dysfunction, finding no evidence of such conditions in service or related to service.

The Board finds that the veteran does not currently have an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and his kidney disorder is not related to service. The preponderance of evidence is against both claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of polysubstance abuse with psychosis. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence linking any diagnosed condition to service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection due to new and material evidence, but the right shoulder rating and bipolar disorder claims are still pending as they may be affected by the reopening of the other claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and a skin disability. The decision also addressed other issues such as diabetes mellitus, hearing loss, and sleep apnea.

The veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, and the residuals of his fracture of the right fifth metacarpal are currently evaluated as noncompensably disabling.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a depressive disorder and bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bipolar disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's bipolar disorder resulted in total occupational and social impairment throughout the rating period.,A 100% evaluation was granted for bipolar disorder effective February 2, 2002.