Bipolar disorder decisions — 2005

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of March 29, 1995 for a 100 percent evaluation for bipolar disorder. The decision is final as it was made in December 2000.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, due to a lack of evidence linking her symptoms to active duty. The Board found that while she experienced psychotic episodes in the late 1980s, there was no credible evidence supporting a link between these episodes and her military service.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection and a 100% rating for schizoaffective bipolar disorder was denied. The earliest possible effective date is August 10, 2000, which is when he filed his reopened application.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as paranoid schizophrenia, bipolar, and typical post passive-aggressive, did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's bipolar disorder is rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The veteran's service-connected scar from a left thumb injury remains at 10 percent. His TDIU claim was denied as his disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric disorders existed prior to service and were not aggravated by his active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a nervous disorder, including diagnoses of PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The new evidence submitted did not meet the criteria for reopening the claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for bipolar disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The earliest effective date that can be assigned is September 11, 2001.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran's current mental disorder is related to his military service.

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

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and Bipolar Disorder, finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's active duty. The bipolar disorder was diagnosed many years after service and not linked to any incident of service.

The veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder is currently rated at 10 percent disabling. The evidence does not support a higher rating as the symptoms are controlled by medication and do not significantly impair occupational or social functioning.

The veteran's skin rash claim was denied, but he received a 50% rating for his bipolar disorder prior to July 30, 2004.

The Board found that the veteran's bipolar disorder did not originate in service or within one year of separation and is not otherwise related to his military service or the service-connected orchitis or epididymal cyst. The claim for secondary service connection was denied.

The Board found no current diagnosis of PTSD and the acquired psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder) are not related to service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, including bipolar disorder and adjustment disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board also noted that there was no evidence of a current psychosis to support a presumption of service connection for any psychiatric disability. As such, the claim for service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder and assigned an effective date of October 19, 1967. The issue of a higher rating for psychomotor epilepsy is remanded.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and testicular cancer. The decision found that the veteran did not have a current disability related to his in-service exposure to chemicals.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia should be remanded to allow for further development, including a VA examination.