Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including psychotic symptoms, was manifested to a compensable degree within the first post-service year and is presumed to have had its onset during service.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including bipolar affective disorder, is found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar myositis and right rotator cuff tendonitis. The appeal for the cervical spine disability issue has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorders are presumed to have pre-existed service and were aggravated by military service. Service connection is granted for PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and dissociative identity disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling new examinations. The Veteran's claims of service connection for bipolar disorder and degenerative disc disease with right lower extremity radiculitis (claimed as a back disorder) are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD. The claim for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD remains pending and requires further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development, including verification of in-service stressors and additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and schizoaffective bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and private medical records.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as the appellant's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for such a claim due to her pre-existing conditions and lack of in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened and service connection is granted. The Veteran also has a current diagnosis of bipolar disorder, which is found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of 100% for PTSD with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, and substance dependency is granted effective from October 25, 2004.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and traumatic brain injury with memory loss, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development regarding the credibility of the Veteran's stressor accounts and the need for a new psychiatric examination.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that the Veteran's in-service symptoms were due to a pre-existing personality disorder and not related to any disease or injury during service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression and bipolar disorder.

The Veteran does not meet the legal criteria for basic eligibility for nonservice-connected pension benefits due to a lack of qualifying active service during a period of war.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Veteran's appeal is for an initial rating of bipolar disorder in excess of 50 percent from July 30, 2003 to May 21, 2009. The RO granted service connection and initially evaluated the disability as 50 percent disabling. The Veteran requested a higher rating but was denied. He now requests an earlier effective date for the 100% stage of initial rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development including obtaining prison records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's bipolar disorder is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not shown to be related to his military service and is not considered secondary to any service-connected disabilities.