Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The veteran's effective date for the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder is February 15, 2000.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected duodenal ulcer and bipolar disorder did not significantly contribute to his death, as indicated by the certificate of death. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is therefore denied.

The veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the current nature of his psychiatric disorders and their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a VA psychiatric examination and medical records from Bedford VA Medical Center. The veteran's claim of service connection for bipolar disorder will be reconsidered based on all evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bipolar disorder and hearing loss. The claim of reopening the bipolar disorder was also denied.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat and his PTSD is not service-connected. The VA examiner concluded that the veteran's experiences do not meet the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including stressor verification and a medical opinion on the veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The veteran's claim to reopen service connection for a psychiatric disorder, claimed as bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for new and material evidence. The VA will provide the veteran with corrective VCAA notice regarding what constitutes 'new' and 'material' evidence necessary to substantiate his claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder, bipolar disorder, and depression. The case is REMANDED to allow for further examination and consideration.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder was received on June 1, 1994, more than one year after his discharge from active duty. Therefore, the earliest effective date for this grant of service connection is June 1, 1994.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for bipolar disorder between October 19, 1967, and May 31, 1995, finding that there was no objective medical evidence of impairment attributable to his psychiatric disability during this period.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn before the Board could make a decision.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant due to his inability to walk without assistance and the lack of structural adaptations needed in his home.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. The veteran's depression is considered to have been incurred during active service. There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of bipolar disorder or PTSD until decades post-service, nor is there any competent evidence linking these conditions to service. Service connection was granted on the basis of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and further examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address the merits of the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for further development due to insufficient medical nexus opinions and missing VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the March 1991 rating decision denying service connection for bipolar disorder was clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and a grant of service connection for bipolar disorder is now granted. The issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error in the March 1991 and April 1993 rating decisions that denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence regarding the claim of service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder manifested by bipolar disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for bipolar disorder and found that his income was excessive for receipt of nonservice-connected pension benefits.