Bipolar disorder decisions — 2009

The Veteran wishes to withdraw his appeal regarding the reduction of his bipolar disorder rating from 100% to 10%, and also regarding entitlement to a higher rating for bipolar disorder. The Board has dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric and skin disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities. However, a remand is necessary as the VA examinations did not consider whether his medications render him housebound.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is found to be etiologically related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder, is not due to disease or injury incurred in service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a travel board hearing and further evidentiary development.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is not productive of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks due to such symptoms as depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks, chronic sleep impairment and mild memory loss. Therefore, the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder. The evidence now shows that the Veteran's bipolar disorder is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability associated with her claimed conditions, and therefore, she cannot establish service connection for any of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office for compliance with the instructions contained in a Joint Motion. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered, and he is notified that he must report for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence and need for a VA examination.

The Board found no evidence of bipolar disorder during service or for many years after, and the Veteran's ex-wife's statements about his behavior were not considered competent medical evidence. The VA examiner concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support a link between the Veteran's current diagnosis of depression with possible bipolar II and his military service.

The Veteran's service records indicate he was diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder during his active duty. The current appeal is about whether these in-service symptoms are indicative of an acquired psychiatric disability, such as bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia, that may have been aggravated by the in-service diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a cervical spine injury, asthmatic bronchitis, and bipolar disorder (claimed as a nervous condition) have been denied. The applications to reopen the claims for residuals of a cervical spine injury and asthmatic bronchitis were also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bipolar disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric examination. The issues of whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen claims for service connection for back disability and for psychiatric disabilities are considered in light of the VCAA.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or financial assistance in acquiring an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim, finding that his daughter was permanently incapable of self-support due to her psychiatric disabilities prior to reaching age 18. The decision is based on new evidence and a reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD with bipolar disorder has been rated at 30 percent since June 29, 2007. The disability is productive of occupational and social impairment due to reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining records from the 196th Station Hospital in Mons, Belgium, and providing the Veteran with a VCAA notice regarding alternative evidence sources. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence obtained.