Bipolar disorder decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's preexisting psychiatric condition, diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorders, did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses are related to any traumatic event in service, including a reported sexual assault.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder with depression and uncontrollable temper was denied as there is no evidence that the current condition began in or was aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bipolar disorder was not incurred during or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder and intermittent explosive disorder, as well as his increased rating claims for right knee and left knee disorders. The appeals were based on new evidence submitted by the veteran.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of December 17, 2001, for a total rating for service-connected bipolar disorder. The decision found that there was no evidence showing an increase in disability within the year prior to the claim.

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, diagnosed as bipolar disorder with psychotic features, is currently rated at 50 percent. The appeal for increased rating and TDIU has been granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar disorder due to a lack of new and material evidence.

The VA determined that the veteran's psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, and Depressive Disorder, is not related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder did not cause or contribute to his death from atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for the cause of death.

The veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep disturbance, and impaired memory function were not found to be service-connected.

The Board found no evidence of a verified stressor for PTSD and concluded that the veteran's psychiatric symptoms do not meet the criteria for diagnosis of PTSD. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was also denied as there is insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between current symptoms and in-service events.

The Board found no evidence of a confirmed in-service stressor or medical diagnosis linking the veteran's current psychiatric conditions to his military service, leading to a denial of service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

The Board found that the veteran's schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, with history of schizophrenia was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The preexisting condition worsened during service but no aggravation beyond natural progression was shown.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for bipolar disorder was dismissed due to his failure to provide the requested information within one year after the date of request.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder on a secondary basis to his service-connected low back disability.

The veteran withdrew his appeal of the lung disability and bipolar disorder claims. The April 1992, December 1997, and May 2002 RO decisions are final. New and material evidence has not been received to reopen the sympathetic nerve dystrophy, chronic pain syndrome, back disability, and neck disability claims. Bilateral leg disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the earliest possible effective date for service connection of bipolar disorder with depression and severe psychotic features is September 6, 2002. The veteran's claim was received on that date, and thus she cannot be granted an earlier effective date.

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

The veteran's bipolar disorder caused total social and industrial adaptability, warranting a 100% disability rating as of October 15, 1993.,Service connection for the veteran's seizure disorder secondary to his service-connected bipolar disorder was granted.