Bipolar disorder decisions — 2007

The Board found that the veteran's bipolar disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied her claim for service connection. The anxiety disorder diagnosis is from June 2001, five years after service discharge, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology to support a finding of service connection.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the assignment of a total disability rating for bipolar disorder. The case must be remanded to ensure proper VCAA notification and development.

The veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for a left inguinal hernia and service connection for bipolar disorder were denied. The Board found that the veteran did not have a recurrence of his left inguinal hernia or current bipolar disorder related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and bipolar disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing at the RO, and will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA decision and medical records, providing notice regarding the request to reopen claims for service connection for bipolar disorder, alcohol abuse, and respiratory disorder, and reviewing all evidence received since the September 2004 SOC.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations have been denied. The maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent is already assigned for his tinnitus.

The veteran's psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and PTSD, results in moderate social and occupational impairment. The Board has determined that a 50 percent rating is warranted for his current level of disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of entitlement to an effective date earlier than December 19, 2003 for service connection for bipolar disorder cannot be granted as his NOD was filed outside the one-year appeal period following the July 2, 2002 denial.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the impact of service-connected depression on bipolar disorder and overall progression of mental disorders.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development of the record, including a VA psychiatric examination and obtaining medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for drug addiction and a mood disorder, to include bipolar disorder. The decision found that the veteran's drug addiction was due to willful misconduct during active service and his mood disorder is not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of in-service stressors and a need for further examination.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. However, further development is needed to confirm whether all criteria set forth under 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f) for service connection of PTSD have been met.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bipolar disorder was incurred during active duty for training and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his bipolar disorder is not related to service. The VA medical records do not support a finding of service connection for either condition.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of any hospitalization records.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10 percent rating for bipolar affective disorder is being remanded due to procedural issues and the need for full compliance with VCAA requirements.

The Board has granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dismissed the claim for bipolar disorder due to lack of evidence supporting the veteran's claimed stressors. The veteran's PTSD is related to his military experiences, including submarine accidents.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder and an increased rating for scar tissue, right epididymis. The evidence did not establish a link between his active service and either condition.