Bipolar disorder decisions — 2007

The veteran's psychiatric disability has increased in severity due to her service-connected post-operative retinal detachments with diplopia, both eyes. The Board finds that the veteran's psychiatric disability is aggravated by her service-connected condition and grants service connection for this degree of additional impairment.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bipolar disorder was denied as the first claim for service connection was received on July 31, 1997.

The veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher 70 percent rating is warranted due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The veteran's service-connected dysthymia was rated at 10 percent prior to February 16, 2000 and later increased to 50 percent for dysthymia with bipolar disorder, type II. The RO denied ratings in excess of these levels.,For the period from August 6, 1999 to February 16, 2000, the veteran's dysthymia was rated at 10 percent due to occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. From February 16, 2000, the rating for dysthymia with bipolar disorder, type II, was increased to 50 percent.

The veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disabilities, including bipolar disorder and PTSD, is being remanded due to the lack of available service medical records. The RO or AMC will attempt to locate these records and provide notice in accordance with Dingess/Hartman v. Nicholson.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder does not warrant a disability rating in excess of 50 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 9432.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative disc disease and bipolar disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder, was not incurred or aggravated by active service and therefore denied his claim.

The veteran is seeking to challenge the October 28, 2003 rating decision that awarded a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD with bipolar disorder effective October 14, 2003. The case is being remanded due to procedural issues and the need to adjudicate both the CUE claim and the initial evaluation issue.

The Board found that the veteran did not sustain a skull injury in service and that his current mental disorders are not related to any incident during service. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bipolar disorder is likely related to his military service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder and major depression, and bilateral hearing loss were denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, as there is no clinical evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder warrants a 70 percent rating, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder. The evidence did not show that any of these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and missing treatment records, requiring a de novo review of the claim for service connection.

The veteran does not have a separate depressive disorder apart from his already service-connected bipolar disorder, and therefore the claim for service connection for depression is denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, rated at a combined level of 70 percent, are shown to be productive on an overall level social and industrial incapacity as to preclude her from performing any form of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bipolar disorder, depressive type should be granted as his application to reopen was received on July 8, 1997. The effective date is set at this date.

The veteran is seeking to reopen his claim for service connection for a mental condition claimed as bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia. The Board has determined that new and material evidence must be submitted before the claim can be reopened.