Bipolar disorder decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for bipolar disorder. The Board also found that there is a link between the veteran's in-service mental health issues, specifically his personality disorder and depressive features, and his current diagnosis of bipolar disorder. As such, the Board granted service connection for bipolar disorder.

The Board found that bipolar disorder did not have its onset in service and is unrelated to service. As such, the claim for service connection for bipolar disorder was denied.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The veteran's claims for service connection remain pending.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection and compensation for a psychiatric disorder manifested by bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The VA determined that the veteran's bipolar affective disorder did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to August 20, 2004 and denied his claim for a higher rating from August 20, 2004 onwards.

The veteran is seeking service connection for bipolar disorder, claimed as depression. The Board has determined that the issue should be remanded to determine if a relationship exists between his current diagnosis and his period of active duty for training in March 1980.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and ensuring compliance with VCAA notice requirements. The veteran's claim of service connection for bipolar disorder will be reviewed again.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bipolar disorder, a form of psychosis, was first manifested within one year after separation from service and is presumed to have been incurred during his active military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for an examination to determine if any psychiatric disability shown in service clearly and unmistakably preexisted service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bipolar disorder is causally related to her period of active duty service. The veteran's service-connected low back disorder, which includes pain and resulting functional impairment, warrants a rating of no more than 40 percent as of March 16, 1999.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bipolar disorder and PTSD were not incurred during active service, as there is no evidence of a traumatic in-service event or stressor. The veteran was found to have reactive depression during service but did not participate in combat.

The veteran withdrew her appeal on the issues of entitlement to service connection for bipolar disorder and flat feet prior to a decision being made.

The veteran's bipolar disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted. The claim for TDIU was also denied as his service-connected disability does not solely prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder, resulting in a denial of this appeal.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically bipolar disorder. The RO has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of his current condition to his military service.

The veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for bilateral high frequency hearing loss, service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, and service connection for bipolar disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a low back disorder or bipolar disorder attributable to service and denied both claims.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder that is etiologically related to his active service, nor did it show that a currently diagnosed psychosis manifested within one year after his discharge from duty. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of February 1, 1994 for the grant of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenia or bipolar disorder with psychotic features.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, a bipolar disorder, and a panic disorder. The veteran's claims were reopened based on new evidence of her military sexual trauma during active duty.