Bipolar disorder decisions — 2010

The Board found that the appellant's current psychiatric disability, including schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board also noted early manifestation of an antisocial personality disorder but no evidence of a schizophreniform or bipolar disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a request for a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the regular aid and attendance of another person, and the Board has granted special monthly compensation based on this need.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for special monthly pension (SMP) at the housebound rate due to his age and combined disability rating of 100 percent. The issue of service connection for a psychiatric disability is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for schizoaffective disorder. The remaining issue of whether he is entitled to service connection for any other acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia, will be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran is entitled to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The RO must obtain deck logs from the USS Richmond K. Turner and request medical records from Social Security Administration.

The Board found that the Veteran's active service was not the cause of his death from a myocardial infarction, and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's preexisting psychiatric condition, schizophrenia corrected to bipolar disorder, was not aggravated by service and thus the presumption of soundness does not apply. The claim is granted as the Veteran had a history of bipolar disorder prior to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present acquired psychiatric disorders. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bipolar disorder first manifested during active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has expanded the claim to include other diagnosed psychiatric disorders and is remanding it for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder, did not originate in service or for many years thereafter and are not related to any incident during active service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development. The case will be reviewed after obtaining VA treatment records from Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case is being remanded to the AMC for a VA examination and further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The non-PTSD conditions are related to his history of alcohol and substance abuse post-service.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and/or major depressive disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing records and further development is required.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to determine whether any current psychiatric disorder was caused or aggravated by events during military service.