Bipolar disorder decisions — 2010

The Board found that bipolar disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, SSA disability determination information, and a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD or other psychiatric disorders are related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, and as a result, also grants service connection for Bipolar Disorder and Schizoaffective Disorder due to the overlap in symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bipolar disorder is related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability has been rated at a 50 percent since August 2004, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate for the entire period of time covered by the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of any acquired psychiatric pathology, including PTSD and other diagnoses such as bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia. The case will be reconsidered after this development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding insufficient evidence of a chronic psychiatric disorder during service or within one year after service. The Court remanded the case due to failure to consider relevant medical history and applicable regulation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and found that new evidence supports reopening. The Board also determined that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD, but did not rule out other psychiatric conditions such as bipolar affective disorder and depression.

The Board denied the claim for an effective date prior to July 20, 2001 for a 70 percent rating for service-connected bipolar disorder due to lack of factual ascertainability of an increase in disability during the year prior to the filing of the claim.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for bipolar disorder is denied. The appeal regarding compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a left wrist and hand disability remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the need for regular aid and attendance, as she is able to perform her activities of daily living without requiring assistance from another person.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include schizophrenia and/or a bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his current psychiatric condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, schizoid personality disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), needs further development. The case is being remanded to allow for additional examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if any records indicating a diagnosis of manic-depressive disorder in May 1976 or subsequent prescription of a lithium program can be located, and to schedule the Veteran for a VA medical examination to determine whether his current psychiatric disability had its onset during active service.

The Veteran's request for payment of emergency room services rendered on December 6-7, 2009 was denied. The Board has ordered a SOC to be issued.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for bipolar disorder, type 2 was denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder, type 2 was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with bipolar disorder, effective January 18, 2000. The earlier effective date claim is denied due to the absence of CUE in the September 1970 RO decision.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder was rated at 30 percent prior to August 27, 2004. Since then, the disability has been rated as 100 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the appellant's PTSD or bipolar disorder is related to inservice asthma complaints.