Bipolar disorder decisions — 2008

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that the veteran's bipolar disorder was incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's suicide does not constitute willful misconduct, and therefore service connection for the cause of his death is denied as there is no evidence showing a service-connected disability caused or contributed to his death.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including manic depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The claim for PTSD was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and a mental disorder have not been reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records review. The issues of increased ratings for his service-connected Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease with bilateral lower extremity neuropathy and bipolar affective disorder are pending.

The Board found no current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, or bipolar disorder. The veteran's diagnosed paranoid personality disorder is not a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and medical evidence from potential sources. The veteran is also asked to provide any favorable medical opinions linking his psychiatric conditions to service.

The veteran is seeking to establish service connection for bipolar disorder. The case is remanded due to missing medical records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher initial rating and an earlier effective date for his hypertension. The veteran was granted service connection for hypertension in May 2003, but the RO assigned a disability rating of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability, left arm disability, and bipolar disorder. The claim for low back disability was not addressed as it had been previously denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the appellant's current psychiatric disorder and his service, as well as potential issues related to pension eligibility.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on June 16, 2006 at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo was denied as she did not meet the requirements under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1728 and 38 C.F.R. § 17.1004.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder with depression was incurred during service due to military sexual trauma.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the appellant's bipolar disorder. The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is referred to the RO for further consideration.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disability, bipolar disorder, and low back disability due to lack of evidence showing in-service injury or occurrence.

The Board has found that the veteran's bipolar disorder was not chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service separation, and is not related by competent medical evidence to any in-service injury or disease. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder, hepatitis C, sinusitis, and a skin rash. The decision did not address loss of vision, left knee condition, mouth cancer, kidney stones, head trauma, or hearing loss.

The Board found that the veteran's bipolar disorder was not incurred or aggravated in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder, depression, dysthymia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to the need for a medical examination to determine if his current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.