Bipolar disorder decisions — 2017

The Veteran has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which the VA examiner found to be more likely than not incurred during his active service. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has expanded the Veteran's claim to include all acquired psychiatric disabilities and is remanding for a new VA examination to determine if any diagnosed disorder is related to his military service.

The May 1975 rating decision granted service connection for bipolar disorder (formerly schizophrenia) and assigned a 30 percent disability rating, effective April 11, 1975. The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in this determination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD and there is no competent evidence linking any other mental disorder to active duty or to a service connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression is denied.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new etiology opinion regarding her acquired psychiatric disability, to include bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder. The case will be reconsidered after the remand.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD and determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including depression and anxiety disorder, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bipolar disorder is not etiologically related to her active service and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder had its onset during active service and the evidence shows that his condition worsened while in-service. The Board finds that the Veteran must be presumed to have been sound upon entry, and thus entitlement to service connection is granted.

The Veteran does not have PTSD and her other psychiatric disabilities, including personality disorder, bipolar disorder, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, and major depressive disorder, were not manifested in service or are otherwise etiologically related to service.,Service connection is denied for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's personality disorder, by itself, is not a compensable disability and does not superimpose onto an acquired psychiatric disability during or as a result of service. The Board also found no evidence to support service connection for migraine headaches or sleep disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, but finds that he has a current diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder. The Bipolar Disorder is not linked to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of Battalion Roster for Company C, 2nd Battalion, 1st Signal Brigade for the training cycle of May 27, 1980 to August 1980 at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bipolar disorder, and residuals of a back strain have been decided. The claim for PTSD was denied, the claim for bipolar disorder was granted, and the claim for residuals of a back strain has been reopened and granted.

The Board has found that new evidence received since the June 2010 rating decision relates to whether preexisting bipolar disorder worsened during service. The claim is reopened, but service connection for bipolar disorder remains denied as the condition clearly and unmistakably did not worsen beyond its natural progression.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bipolar disorder initially manifested during service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's bipolar disorder, diagnosed during her active duty training at Fort Benning in June 1981, was incurred due to service and is therefore service-connected.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder has been rated at 70 percent disabling, effective from the date of this decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral leg disorders, an acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder and personality disorder), residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), Parkinson's disease, and microadenoma. The reasons are provided in the decision.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board found that there was no CUE in the August 1984 rating decision and that the earliest assignable effective date is January 30, 2008.