BVA9503198 
DOCKET NO.  92-52 835     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Waco, Texas

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Marine Corps League

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Appellant

INTRODUCTION

The veteran served on active duty from January 1961 to November
1962. This matter comes on appeal to the Board of Veterans'
Appeals from a February 1991 decision by the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Waco, Texas. The
case was initially before the Board in March 1992, at which time
the case was remanded for development.

CONTENTIONS OF APPELLANT ON APPEAL

The veteran in effect contends that she has a chronic psychiatric
disorder which had its onset in service or within one year
thereafter.

DECISION OF THE BOARD

The Board, in accordance with the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A.
§ 7104 (West 1991), has reviewed and considered all of the
evidence and material of record in the veteran's claims file.
Based on its review of the relevant evidence in this matter, and
for the following reasons and bases, it is the decision of the
Board that service connection for a psychiatric disorder is
warranted.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1.  All relevant evidence necessary for an equitable disposition
of the veteran's appeal has been obtained by the originating
agency.

2. The veteran has a bipolar disorder which was initally
manifested within one year of her discharge from service.

CONCLUSION OF LAW

A bipolar disorder was incurred in active service. 38 U.S.C.A. §§
1101, 1112, 1113, 1131, 1137, 5107 (West 1991); 38 C.F.R. §§
3.307, 3.309 (1993).

REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION

The veteran's claim is "well-grounded" within the meaning of 38
U.S.C.A. § 5107(a) (West 1991).  That is, she has presented a
claim that is plausible.  The Board is also satisfied that all
relevant facts have been properly developed and no further
assistance to the veteran is required to comply with the duty to
assist mandated by 38 U.S.C.A. § 5107(a).

The veteran was most recently examined by a VA psychiatrist in
May 1992. The diagnosis was bipolar disorder, mixed type. In
October 1994, the case was referred to an independent medical
expert for an opinion with respect to the correct psychiatric
diagnosis and to the likelihood that current psychiatric
pathology had its onset in service or that a psychosis was
manifested within one year of service discharge. In a statement
dated in December 1994, Kristin Van Zant, M.D., an assistant
professor of psychiatry at the Medical College of Pennsylvania,
concluded that the correct psychiatric diagnosis was bipolar
disorder. Dr. Van Zant further was of the opinion that the onset
of this condition was within 4 months of the veteran's discharge
from service. Given that evidence of record demonstrates that a
bipolar disorder was manifested to a compensable degree within
one year of the veteran's separation from service, the Board
finds that service connection for a bipolar disorder is
warranted. 38 U.S.C.A. §§ 1101, 1112, 1113, 1131, 1137, 5107; 38
C.F.R. § 3.307, 3.309.

ORDER

Service connection for a bipolar disorder is granted.

          WAYNE M. BRAEUER
          Member, Board of Veterans' Appeals

The Board of Veterans' Appeals Administrative Procedures
Improvement Act, Pub. L. No. 103-271, § 6, 108 Stat. 740, ___
(1994), permits a proceeding instituted before the Board to be
assigned to an individual member of the Board for a
determination.  This proceeding has been assigned to an
individual member of the Board.

NOTICE OF APPELLATE RIGHTS:  Under 38 U.S.C.A. § 7266 (West
1991), a decision of the Board of Veterans' Appeals granting less
than the complete benefit, or benefits, sought on appeal is
appealable to the United States Court of Veterans Appeals within
120 days from the date of mailing of notice of the decision,
provided that a Notice of Disagreement concerning an issue which
was before the Board was filed with the agency of original
jurisdiction on or after November 18, 1988.  Veterans' Judicial
Review Act, Pub. L. No. 100-687, § 402 (1988).  The date which
appears on the face of this decision constitutes the date of
mailing and the copy of this decision which you have received is
your notice of the action taken on your appeal by the Board of
Veterans' Appeals.