Bipolar disorder decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to determine the nature of his psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, specifically anxiety disorder not otherwise specified and depressive disorder NOS, is related to his in-service stressor. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and arranging for VA examinations to assess his psychiatric disorder and gastrointestinal disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records of psychiatric hospitalizations and clarifying information about inservice stressors.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for an effective date of October 19, 1995, but no earlier, for the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision also found that an effective date earlier than October 19, 1995, would not be warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD and a generalized anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are linked to his military service. The issues of service connection for residuals of mercury poisoning, hepatitis C, and bipolar disorder as well as the claim for TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination, stressor verification, and consideration of new evidence. The Veteran's claims are related to his service-connected PTSD and bipolar disorder.

The Board found the character of discharge for the period from September 13, 1999 to May 15, 2003 is not a bar to VA benefits. However, the character of discharge for the period from May 16, 2003 to July 30, 2007 is considered dishonorable and thus bars VA benefits.

The Board found no credible evidence of in-service stressors and thus denied the claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder, are related to his military service. The claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including a lack of VA examination and conflicting medical opinions. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed de novo after additional development.

The Veteran's bipolar mood disorder with panic disorder, agoraphobia, and alcohol dependence was characterized by symptoms such as insomnia, severe sleep disturbance, anxious affect, paranoid ideation, distorted judgment, panic attacks, poor concentration, short-term memory impairment, and suicidal ideation prior to January 30, 2008.,As of January 30, 2008 and prior to November 4, 2009, the Veteran's bipolar mood disorder was characterized by prescribed medications, anxiety, daily panic attacks, severe depression, sleep impairment, and chronic suicidal ideation.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder has been rated at 50 percent since September 2006, and the VA examiner found that his symptoms have worsened to warrant a higher rating.

The Board found that the appellant's current psychiatric disorders, including schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, are presumed to have existed prior to his entrance into service in December 1974. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received since the final October 1995 rating decision, which reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD. The case will be further developed to address stressor events and obtain relevant medical records.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bipolar disorder warrants a 100% disability rating, effective from the date of his original claim for benefits. This decision renders moot his appeal for TDIU as he is already receiving the highest possible evaluation for his service-connected condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and personnel records from the Veteran's periods of active duty and National Guard service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, which may be bipolar disorder or another condition.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied as his unemployability is primarily due to his bipolar disorder, not his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a psychiatric examination to clarify the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD or any other psychiatric disability due to his military service and denied his claims.