Bipolar disorder decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 8, 2005, for the grant of a total rating for bipolar disorder was granted. The Board found that symptoms leading to the RO's decision can be considered as present as of April 20, 2005.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorder, is denied as the appellant failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development of evidence, including obtaining missing service treatment records and VA/privately held medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also being reviewed.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder has been rated at 30 percent since January 24, 2004. The Board finds that the current evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder must be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding whether her claimed in-service sexual assault occurred, and if so, whether her current psychiatric disabilities are related to her military service.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder with generalized social phobia was not found to warrant an initial evaluation greater than 30 percent from November 11, 2003 to November 11, 2005 and not found to warrant an initial evaluation greater than 50 percent from November 12, 2005 onwards.

The Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and panic disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, somatization disorder, and PTSD are linked to her in-service sexual assault. Service connection is denied for endometriosis.

The Board denied service connection for an illness manifested by fever, nausea and vomiting (claimed as undiagnosed illness) and bipolar disorder (claimed as secondary to undiagnosed illness), finding no evidence of such conditions in service or post-service that are related to the Veteran's military service.

The RO proposed to discontinue the Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits, but found that she had been substantially and gainfully employed for at least twelve months. The RO then granted restoration of her TDIU rating.,The RO also restored the Veteran's DEA benefits as they were based on a permanent total service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder, finding it likely related to active service. The left ankle condition and respiratory/sinus conditions remain unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and providing a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim will be re-adjudicated after this development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and lack of private treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is being reviewed again with a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and dementia, had its onset in service.

The Board has ordered the VA to verify the appellant's service dates and obtain his complete medical records, including those from Dr. Forina. The VA is also requested to schedule a VA examination for an opinion on when any current psychiatric disability may have started during active duty or ADT, and whether it is related to service-connected lumbar myositis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome were denied. The claim for a disability related to heat and cold exposure was not addressed as it is not within the scope of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, SSA records, and any additional medical examination. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include bipolar disorder is pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was denied, as the claim has already been established with a 100% evaluation for PTSD. The Board also addressed and denied the reopening of the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's attempt to reopen his claim for service connection of bipolar disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.