Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for psychiatric disability, which includes diagnoses of bipolar affective disorder, agoraphobia with panic attacks, and atypical psychosis. The Board also found that these conditions had their onset during the veteran's active military service.

The VA determined that the appellant's bipolar disorder is currently manifested by no more than depressed mood, chronic sleep impairment, and complaints of mild memory loss. Therefore, it assigned a 30 percent evaluation for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bipolar disorder does not warrant a disability rating greater than 50 percent, and his claim for TDIU is also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bipolar disorder originated during his active military service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board denied service connection for bipolar disorder, thoracic spine disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder as not well grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder and increased evaluations for residuals of a head injury and lumbar strain with spondylolysis, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the claimant's preexisting psychiatric disability, diagnosed as chronic undifferentiated schizophrenia, was not aggravated during his brief period of active service. Therefore, he is not entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as schizophrenia, clearly and unmistakably preexisted her entry into military service and was not aggravated by service. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 14, 1995 for the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of entitlement to special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, finding that his disabilities did not result in helplessness due to mental or physical impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected bipolar disorder due to her failure to report for a scheduled VA examination, and found that her disability did not warrant a higher rating under either the old or new criteria.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 13, 1996 for a 100% schedular rating for PTSD was denied as the maximum benefit available for that disability under the criteria in effect both before and after November 7, 1996 has already been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder as secondary to the veteran's service-connected psychophysiological cardiovascular reaction with hypertension. The claim for an increased rating for the service-connected condition remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bipolar disorder originated during his active military service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 31, 1997 for the award of a total disability rating for compensation purposes on the basis of individual unemployability (TDIU). The appeal was based on new evidence that reopened his service connection claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The case is now remanded to comply with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 and other procedural requirements.

The veteran is seeking service connection for bipolar disorder as secondary to her service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome. The VA has not provided a psychiatric examination, and the case must be remanded for one.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized home improvements and structural alterations, finding that there was no medical emergency necessitating the installation in March 1997.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claims of service connection for bipolar disorder and chronic cervical spine disability, resulting in a denial.

The veteran's bipolar disorder was incurred in or aggravated during active service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.