Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for an increased initial rating for bipolar disorder with adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood.

The Board finds that the Veteran's psychiatric disability is related to her service-connected left ankle disability, and her headaches are related to active service. However, there is no evidence of a direct relationship between any other claimed disabilities and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and military police records. If a verified stressor of assault in service is found, the Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine if PTSD is causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from September 8, 2006 to September 10, 2006 at St. Francis Hospital are approved as the VA facilities were not feasibly available and an attempt to use them beforehand would not have been reasonable.

The Board finds that the Veteran's psychiatric symptoms, including bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, and panic attacks, did not manifest in service or within one year of discharge. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology post-service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disability and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder). The decision is based on new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and bipolar disorder are related to his active duty service, including his experiences during the Gulf War.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD with bipolar 2 disorder and hypomanic (previously evaluated as schizophrenia, unspecified), was granted effective from November 18, 2009. His claim for service connection for tinnitus was also granted effective from the same date.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has reopened the claim and determined that new and material evidence has been received to support a service connection for bipolar disorder, which is considered a new condition not previously addressed in previous claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records from his prison treatment. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran did not submit a valid claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder prior to January 24, 2007. As such, an earlier effective date is denied.

The Veteran's initial ratings for bipolar disorder have been granted and adjusted over time. The rating was initially 30% before June 17, 2003; increased to 50% from March 12, 2008; and further increased to 70% from January 24, 2007.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have PTSD related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for any necessary VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression was denied as there is no evidence showing the disorder occurred in or was caused by service. The Board granted the appeal on reopening of her service-connected hysterical neurosis, finding that it manifested into bipolar disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar and dysthymic disorders, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back disability. The issues of radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, erectile dysfunction, and tinnitus are not addressed due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA records and SSA disability benefits information. The claims will be reconsidered after these actions.