Bipolar disorder decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed as bipolar disorder and PTSD, was incurred during his period of active military service.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to incomplete VCAA notice and the need for additional development of VA treatment records.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The veteran's claim for service connection for gastroenteritis was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability following service. The claims for service connection for psychiatric disabilities and a sleep disorder are pending, with the need for further examination to determine their relationship to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and bilateral pes planus, are not service-connected. The reasons for this determination include a lack of credible evidence supporting the occurrence of the claimed stressors related to these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a pre-existing psychiatric condition during service and concluded that the veteran's current psychiatric disability is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inability to obtain certain military records and to provide notice of VA's inability to obtain these records.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a craniotomy/cranioplasty, including headaches, bipolar disorder, traumatic brain injury with organic brain syndrome, and cognitive disorder. The veteran's conditions are deemed to be directly related to his in-service surgery.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bipolar disorder was incurred in service, as it is linked to his military service and alcohol abuse.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for further examination to determine if the veteran's bipolar disorder had its onset during his military service or was aggravated by it.

The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date of July 20, 2001 for the grant of a 70 percent rating for bipolar disorder.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to establish service connection for a psychiatric disorder or bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a mental condition claimed as bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records and other relevant medical history.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding medical records and further examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for bipolar disorder, which was previously denied in June 2003. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. The Board also found that the current psychiatric disorders are likely due to events in service.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including residuals of a head injury, bipolar disorder with memory loss and hallucinations, bilateral hearing loss, loss of sense of smell, and degenerative changes at the T11-12 and T12-L1 vertebral levels. The decision is based on the absence of evidence of an in-service head injury.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been remanded due to inadequate VCAA notice and the need to obtain SSA records.

The veteran's bipolar disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency prior to September 14, 2005. Since then, it caused significant impairment but did not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and readjudicating the claim.