Bipolar disorder decisions — 2007

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for bipolar disorder with panic disorder and agoraphobia was denied as there was no prior informal or formal claim filed before February 5, 2003.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and depression, did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter. The evidence does not show a nexus between an acquired psychiatric disorder and military service. Additionally, there is no competent medical evidence showing a relationship between the service-connected right ear disability and the acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has reopened the veteran's previously denied claim of service connection for bipolar disorder, but has not decided whether new and material evidence supports this reopening.

The veteran's claim for a special home adaptation housing grant and a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing was denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit due to his service-connected bipolar disorder.

The Board found no evidence of Multiple Sclerosis or Bipolar Disorder in service, and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for bipolar disorder and a retroactive effective date for service connection of bipolar disorder, finding that his symptoms did not warrant higher ratings or earlier effective dates.

The veteran was not rated as totally disabled for a continuous period of at least eight years prior to death, and there is no clear and unmistakable error in any previous rating decisions. Therefore, the appellant is not entitled to enhanced DIC.

The veteran's bipolar mood disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted. The evidence does not show symptoms sufficient to warrant a 70% rating under Diagnostic Code 9410 for bipolar disorder. As such, the claim for an increased rating for bipolar mood disorder is denied. Regarding the TDIU claim, the veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment considering his educational and occupational background.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU, finding that entitlement arose on July 9, 1998, when service connection was granted.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection for bipolar disorder, depressive type and Meniere's disease with hearing loss and tinnitus to allow the veteran to provide new evidence that would reopen her claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bipolar disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The claim will be further evaluated on its merits.

The veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a lumbosacral spine disorder are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, residuals of septorhinoplasty, right foot disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and alcohol dependency. The decision found that none of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed bipolar disorder is not related to his military service and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further medical examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's current psychiatric disorders and his in-service symptoms.

The veteran seeks an earlier effective date for his service connection award of bipolar disorder, but the Board finds that no such earlier effective date is warranted under VA law and regulations.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current psychiatric disability attributable to his active service and denied both claims for service connection and total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired mental disorders did not originate in service or within one year thereafter, and are not related to any incident of service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a neuropsychiatric disability and TDIU, finding that there was no evidence linking his current bipolar disorder to his military service. The veteran's right ankle injury and hearing loss were not found to be severe enough to prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.