Bipolar disorder decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's bipolar disorder is reasonably associated with his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the effective date for a 100% disability rating for bipolar disorder should be January 22, 1997.

The Board denied the claim for CUE in the February 1995 rating decision and found that a request for an earlier effective date is not available due to the final February 1995 rating. The November 2005 rating decision granted service connection for bipolar disorder, effective October 14, 2005.

The Board found that the veteran currently suffers from Bipolar Affective Disorder but not PTSD. The claim for PTSD was denied, while the claim for Bipolar Affective Disorder was granted.

The veteran's daughter was not rendered permanently incapable of self-support prior to her 18th birthday, and therefore does not meet the criteria for VA benefits.

The veteran's claim is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a videoconference hearing. The main issue is whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his previous denial of service connection for bipolar disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder, are presumed to have existed prior to her military service and were not aggravated by service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of January 31, 2005, for the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder. The decision states that there is no indication of a prior informal claim or clear and unmistakable error in the original rating decision from January 2002.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of her 100% disability rating for bipolar disorder with alcoholism is granted, as it is factually ascertainable that she met the criteria for a 100% evaluation within one year of her October 28, 1992 claim.

The veteran's initial rating for bipolar affective disorder is 50 percent, effective from June 1998. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder. As such, the claim is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Crohn's disease, recurrent deep vein thrombosis, bipolar disorder, and general maladies due to an undiagnosed illness as a result of his service in the Persian Gulf War theatre-of-operations. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the veteran's failure to appear for a scheduled videoconference hearing and because of her recent move. The claim will be returned to the RO in Chicago, Illinois, if necessary.

The Board has determined that the veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and major depression, are related to her active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bipolar affective disorder does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent, and therefore denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bipolar disorder was not incurred or aggravated during active duty service and is not related to any in-service condition. As a result, the claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is denied.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his disabilities. The RO must then assign disability ratings based on the evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability cannot be reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The newly submitted evidence does not provide any additional information or medical opinion linking his current condition to his military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and updated medical records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully consider the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and a manic depressive disorder.