Bipolar disorder decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's brain tumor is at least as likely as not incurred in service, and his bipolar disorder is at least as likely as not related to service. The decision grants both claims.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding a link between the veteran's current bipolar disorder and his service, thus granting service connection for bipolar disorder.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against the claim for service connection for bipolar disorder, and thus the claim is denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for bipolar disorder and granted it, finding that new evidence submitted since the previous denial supports a link between the veteran's current condition and her service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and granted it, finding that new medical evidence supports the claim of service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date of May 4, 1994 for a 100 percent evaluation for bipolar disorder, finding that such an earlier effective date is legally and factually precluded.

The veteran's initial evaluation for bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder with depression and anxiety was granted at a 30 percent rating. The case is being remanded due to new information from a physical evaluation board conducted in 2007.

The veteran's bipolar disorder has been rated at 30 percent, the lowest available rating for this condition.

The veteran's appeal is to determine if he is entitled to an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder. The case must be remanded due to a VCAA notice deficiency.

The Board denied the claim of clear and unmistakable error in the November 1999 rating action that awarded a 100% disability evaluation for service-connected manic depressive reaction and bipolar disorder effective March 26, 1999.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric condition, and his claimed headaches and motor control problem are not related to service. The veteran's organic affective syndrome is not presumed due to service, but he did not provide sufficient evidence to establish it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing proper VCAA notice.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing. The issues of service connection for bipolar disorder and basic eligibility for pension benefits are pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for anxiety and bipolar disorders, finding that these conditions did not manifest during or within one year after service. The claim for reopening a final disallowed claim for service connection for a gastric disorder was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for schizoaffective disorder with bipolar features, finding that March 4, 2003 was the earliest possible effective date as it is when the veteran first requested to reopen his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type was incurred in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current sinusitis, back disability, or bilateral hearing loss disability. The service connection claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for consideration of new evidence submitted by the veteran, and the RO will then issue a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, that is attributable to his active military service. The low back disorder also cannot be attributed to service.

The veteran's service-connected frostbite residuals and bipolar disorder have been rated appropriately, with no need for higher ratings based on the provided evidence.