Bipolar disorder decisions — 2009

The veteran's initial rating for bipolar disorder was increased to 70 percent, while the ratings for migraine headaches and GERD were not changed.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, was denied. The application to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD was granted.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for a bilateral hand disability, breathing disability, and bipolar disorder to schedule VA examinations.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include bipolar disorder and PTSD, as well as hepatitis C, finding that the conditions pre-existed service and were not aggravated by military service.

The veteran's claim to reopen her previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board finds that further investigation by medical professionals is necessary to determine the etiology of the veteran's psychiatric disability.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for hidradenitis suppurativa prior to August 30, 2002, and denied a rating in excess of 60 percent from August 30, 2002.

The veteran's pre-existing acquired psychiatric disorder, exclusive of PTSD, was not chronically aggravated by her military service. The veteran's PTSD was also not incurred in service.

The Board granted service connection for bipolar disorder, resolving the benefit of the doubt in favor of the veteran.

The Board remands the case for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran's bipolar disorder is related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine intervertebral disc disease and bipolar disorder as there was no evidence that these conditions were caused or aggravated during, or within one year of separation from, active service.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the previous denials was not new and material, thus denying both claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral ankle disability and a psychiatric disability (claimed as bipolar disorder).

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder, as there was no evidence of manifestations during service or for many years thereafter.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining a complete copy of the veteran's Social Security Administration disability determination and associated medical records, as well as scheduling a VA examination to determine if there is at least a 50 percent probability or greater that the veteran's bipolar disorder with mania and psychosis existed prior to service or was incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for chloracne, headaches, myalgia, COPD and bipolar disorder were denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of chloracne, and the other conditions are not related to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the criteria for payment of attorney's fees from past-due benefits based on a grant of service connection for bipolar disorder were met.

The appeal is remanded to obtain additional evidence and ensure compliance with the Kent v. Nicholson ruling.

The veteran's service connection for PTSD was granted, while his claims for bipolar affective disorder and depression were denied.