Bipolar disorder decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss. The decision also noted that the Veteran was scheduled for a Travel Board hearing but failed to appear.

The Board found no evidence to support a connection between the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition and his military service, including his periods of active duty. The claim is therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examiner concluded it was less likely than not that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety symptoms and bipolar disorder are found to be related to his service in Vietnam, including the TET Offensive. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, or depressive disorder. The preponderance of evidence shows no in-service occurrence or continuity of symptomatology related to these conditions and there is no nexus between any diagnosed psychiatric condition and service.

The Board is remanding the case for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's preexisting psychiatric disorder did not undergo a permanent increase in severity due to service, and whether any current psychiatric disorder had its onset in active service or is otherwise causally related to active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychological disability, including PTSD due to military sexual trauma, has been remanded for further development and an additional VA psychiatric examination.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current bipolar mood disorder and depression are related to service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, manic depression and bipolar disorder, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated by military service.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for scheduling a travel board hearing at the Providence, Rhode Island, Regional Office. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be considered after the hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to issues with representation and notification. The claims for service connection are on the merits, but need further development.

The Veteran's appeal to receive special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence did not show a diagnosis of a psychosis during service or continuity of symptoms post-service.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is related to his service-connected cervical myositis and bulging disc, thoracic discogenic disease and lumbosacral bulging disc, neurodermatitis, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (previously an unspecified skin condition of the bilateral calves and forearms), obstructive sleep apnea, and residuals of a left ankle fracture. The Veteran's cervical myositis and bulging disc, thoracic discogenic disease and lumbosacral bulging disc are granted with initial ratings in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's initial increased evaluation for service-connected bipolar disorder was denied, with the RO finding that his symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of December 22, 1995 for the grant of service connection for schizoaffective disorder was granted. The effective date is set at January 14, 1982, which is when the Veteran filed a request to reopen his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's reported dates of onset of his migraine headaches and psychiatric symptoms, as well as conflicting opinions from VA examiners.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and Bipolar Disorder was denied as there is no current medical diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV criteria, and the evidence does not establish a link between his military service and any diagnosed psychiatric condition.