Bipolar disorder decisions — 2008

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and found no evidence linking his bipolar disorder to service. The Board concluded that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's claim for increased evaluation of his service-connected discogenic disease of L5-S1 with lumbar strain was granted, and he is currently receiving a 20% evaluation since November 27, 2007. The issue regarding the psychiatric disorder has been reopened, but no new evidence has been provided to support reopening the claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for bipolar disorder, finding that it is a new claim and not related to his previously denied schizophrenia. The case was remanded for additional development.

The Board finds that the veteran's current diagnoses of dysthymic disorder and PTSD are not supported by evidence, thus service connection for these conditions is denied. The claim for bipolar disorder is granted as there is a current diagnosis and continuity of symptoms since service, but no direct service connection can be established due to lack of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including hearing loss and a bilateral leg disorder, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The veteran's status post superficial burn of the left arm is also denied as it was not related to service.

The Board found that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the November 1980 rating decision denying service connection for schizophrenia. The effective date of a 100% disability rating for bipolar affective disorder is set at April 16, 2000.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, jungle rot, and hypothyroidism were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder, in service. The preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the veteran's current bipolar disability is etiologically related to his active service.

The Board granted a TDIU effective September 10, 1993 based on the veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bipolar affective disorder more nearly approximated the schedular criteria for a 70 percent rating throughout the period of claim, granting an increased disability rating.

The Board found no credible evidence of the claimed stressors and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and bipolar disorder.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the veteran's bipolar mood disorder with depression is related to her service-connected total hysterectomy, and to clarify the nature of any mental disabilities she may have.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, due to new evidence submitted by the veteran. The claim for GERD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of GERD in the record. Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome was also denied. The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for psychiatric disability including PTSD and bipolar disorder was granted, with a rating of 100 percent effective from the date of her original claim. The issue of a rating in excess of 30 percent for right shoulder and chest strain (major extremity) remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the veteran's treatment reports and varying psychiatric diagnoses. The veteran is asked to provide more specific information with regard to the reported stressful experience he had while on active service.

The Board has ordered the VA to seek private medical records from Memorial Herman Baptist Hospital and review the claims file for a medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder caused or contributed to his death. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected bipolar disorder, currently rated at 50 percent.

The Board granted service connection for bipolar disorder and denied the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an initial rating greater than 10 percent for bilateral pes planus, and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for sinusitis.

The Board determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder.

The Board denied service connection for bipolar disorder as there is no medical evidence linking the condition to the veteran's active or National Guard service.