Bipolar disorder decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and private medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, are at least as likely as not related to her military service due to aggravation of a pre-existing personality disorder during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disabilities were productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas (including work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood) from October 17, 2005 to October 26, 2010. From October 27, 2010, the disabilities have continued to produce such impairment.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 70%, which does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection for bipolar disorder with PTSD due to new evidence received since the September 2004 rating decision, including VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran's reported stressors are being verified.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, and Schizoaffective Disorder due to a personal assault during military service.

The Board found no evidence of a psychiatric disability in service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder was granted service connection and assigned an initial disability rating of 50 percent. The Board denied a higher initial rating in excess of 50 percent, but the case was returned to the Board due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than bipolar disorder requires additional development, including providing a VCAA notification letter, obtaining a VA examination, and readjudicating the claims.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for variously diagnosed psychiatric disabilities, including bipolar disorder and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that further examination and medical opinion are needed to resolve the claim for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder. The Veteran's pre-existing bipolar disorder is not presumed, but rather must be evaluated based on its relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain another VA examination and for further development of the claim, including consideration of whether different ratings may be warranted for different time periods in light of Hart v. Mansfield.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied on both issues: entitlement to service connection for a nervous disorder (bipolar disorder) and increased rating for right thumb disability. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the revised Diagnostic Code 5228.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the diagnoses of all psychiatric disorders. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated under the new regulations regarding PTSD.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed depression and anxiety, along with his bipolar I disorder, resulted in occupational and social impairment during the periods specified. He was granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and his claimed stressors are not corroborated by any credible supporting evidence. Therefore, service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, an anxiety disorder other than PTSD, a depressive disorder, a bipolar disorder, a mood disorder other than a depressive or bipolar disorder, an adjustment disorder, and an impulse control disorder, is denied.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and schizo typical personality disorder. The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the current diagnoses are superimposed on the schizo typical personality disorder diagnosed during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder are attributable to service, and therefore grants service connection for these conditions.