Bipolar disorder decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and readjudication due to inadequate review of the veteran's in-service medical history.

The Board found that the evidence received since the February 2003 rating decision is not new and material, thus denying the veteran's claim for service connection for a nervous condition.

The veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a disability rating of 70 percent.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD and bipolar disorder are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating of 50 percent is warranted based on his symptoms.

The veteran's bipolar disorder with depression was incurred in service and has been causally related to service, thus the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, anxiety state, and PTSD. The decision stated that new and material evidence had not been received.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have bipolar disorder or PTSD, and there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for these conditions. The initial noncompensable evaluation assigned for the scar of the left abdomen was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to September 26, 2002 for service connection for bipolar disorder based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE). The decision found that the November 1994 rating decision was not erroneous and correctly applied the applicable laws and regulations.

The veteran's PTSD and associated Bipolar Disorder are currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for these conditions. The evidence does not show that his symptoms warrant a higher evaluation.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, incurred or aggravated during his military service. The Board found no competent medical evidence of a current diagnosis of bipolar paranoid schizophrenia and concluded there is no link between the veteran's alleged in-service harassment and his current condition.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for an acquired neuro-psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the previously denied claim. The preponderance of the medical evidence did not support a finding that any of the appellant's acquired neuro-psychiatric disorders were incurred in or aggravated by his period of active duty for training.

The veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and a mental condition. The VA has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disabilities diagnosed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current psychiatric disabilities were incurred in or caused by active military service.

The veteran's medical expenses at Anderson Mercy Hospital were not authorized in advance by VA, and reimbursement is denied as no prior authorization was obtained.

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder, did not manifest during service or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and depression, were not related to his service. The earliest medical evidence of these conditions was dated over a decade after he left active duty.

The veteran's bipolar disorder has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a disability rating of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bipolar affective disorder was incurred in service and granted his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for VCAA-compliant notification and VA compensation examination reports.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bipolar disorder, anger, and depression must be remanded due to missing VA treatment records and a need to consider his PTSD claim.