Bipolar disorder decisions — 2009

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence related to the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence supports the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder.

The Board denied service connection for right foot bunion, aortic valve replacement (claimed as heart condition), and did not reopen the claim of service connection for schizoaffective disorder with bipolar disorder.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for bipolar disorder, as there was no formal claim or written intent to file a claim between May 1999 and February 2003.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as a bipolar disorder, as there was no evidence of a psychiatric disorder in service or within one year after discharge and no medical nexus between the Veteran's current condition and his active duty service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a bipolar disorder (by history) and adjustment disorder with depressed mood were granted. Claims for drowsiness, aching joints, throat clearing, and dyspnea due to an undiagnosed illness as a result of Persian Gulf War service were denied.

The Board denied service connection for bipolar disorder as there was no evidence of a psychiatric disorder in service or until many years after service, and no competent evidence linking the current condition to service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder was reopened based on new and material evidence. The veteran's plantar callosities were found not to warrant ratings in excess of 10 percent.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and depression.

The Board denied service connection for bipolar disorder and granted the reopening of a claim for PTSD, but did not decide on the merits of the service connection aspect.

The Board reopened the claim for service connection for bipolar disorder as new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board finds that the veteran's current bipolar disorder had its onset in service and is related to his in-service complaints, granting service connection.

The veteran's bipolar disorder with psychotic features is not shown to have had its clinical onset in service or otherwise to be related to any event or incident of active service.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date was denied as the legal criteria were not met, and July 20, 2004 is the appropriate effective date.

The Board denied service connection for an abdominal disorder, a low back disorder, and bipolar disorder as there was no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current conditions and her military service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, bipolar disorder, and PTSD as the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the veteran's period of active military service.

The appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant records from the Social Security Administration and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board denied the veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for bipolar disorder, left knee disability, and neck (cervical spine) disability as no new evidence was found to be material.

The Board denied service connection for chronic otitis media with attic retraction cholesteatoma status post mastoidectomy and bilateral hearing loss, but granted a 20% evaluation for bilateral hearing loss effective August 7, 2007.