Bipolar disorder decisions — 2008

The veteran's PTSD with associated Bipolar Disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine his employability based on his psychiatric disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities met the schedular criteria for special monthly compensation effective August 31, 2005. The appeal is denied as there was no basis to assign an earlier effective date.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD. The veteran's current psychiatric disability is considered a personality disorder and not compensable under VA compensation laws.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an abrasion on the right leg, a scar on the back of the head with migraines, and a psychiatric disorder including anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. The evidence did not establish a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for an acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, or a personality disorder or attention deficit disorder.

The veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating since May 18, 2005.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for COPD, leaving only the psychiatric disorder issue to be decided.

The Board has decided that the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and Bipolar Disorder should be remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a psychiatric examination.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a new examination.

The Board found that the veteran's bipolar disorder did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and manic depressive disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated during active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran does not have any of the claimed mental disorders (depression, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, paranoid schizophrenia, or attention deficit disorder) that are related to her military service.

The veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for bipolar disorder is denied as he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder does not render her unable to secure or retain substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claim of service connection for folliculitis of the scalp was reopened and granted, while his claim for bipolar disorder was also reopened but denied on the merits.,Both conditions are related to military service.

The Board found that the appellant's character of discharge was under dishonorable conditions due to frequent periods of being absent without leave (AWOL) and other offenses, which acted as a bar to VA compensation benefits.

The Board denied service connection for tremors of the hands and right knee injury, finding no evidence of such conditions during or immediately after service.,The veteran's claims to reopen his previously denied psychiatric and left knee disability claims were also denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including brief reactive psychosis, bipolar disorder, paranoid schizophrenia, mental retardation, and schizotypal personality disorder is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further examination.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to helpless child benefits on the basis of permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining the age of 18. The veteran's son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and ADHD, but the Board determined that this did not establish that he was permanently incapacitated from self-support prior to reaching the age of 18.