Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas from November 15, 2016, to August 10, 2021.,Beginning August 11, 2021, the disability caused total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's PTSD with bipolar disorder has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating effective August 8, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD with bipolar disorder, as well as claims for increased ratings and TDIU/SMC, were denied. The Board found that the earliest date of entitlement to service connection was April 11, 2023.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disability and a TDIU due solely to service-connected acquired psychiatric disability are being remanded because the VA did not provide him with a new VA examination, which is a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders, chronic fatigue, congestive heart failure, DM II, hypertension, and a right shoulder condition. The Veteran's claims were based on presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder was rated at 50% and then reduced to 30%. The Board has now granted a 70% rating effective November 23, 2021, based on the improvement in her symptoms.

The Veteran is granted additional compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) due to his service-connected total acquired psychiatric disorder and other disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more, making him permanently housebound.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bipolar disorder, type II is granted as the evidence does not clearly and unmistakably show that his condition existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not attributable to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in loss of use of both feet, which qualifies her for an allowance for an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for a right knee condition are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ must attempt to verify the claimed stressor events and provide a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 2, 2015, for TDIU was denied as the evidence did not show actual worsening within one year prior to his March 2, 2015, claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including unspecified depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, is related to his service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type was dismissed due to her death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's PTSD and bipolar disorder, as well as a failure to provide an adequate VA examination prior to the rating decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression (major depressive disorder) as secondary to generalized anxiety disorder and on a direct basis, finding no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, are remanded due to missing VA records from 1984 to 2000. The Board will attempt to verify the in-service stressor and request any available VA medical records during this period. A VA examination is also required to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for PTSD and unspecified bipolar disorder with TBI was denied, as the evidence did not show that he met the criteria for such a rating prior to July 10, 2024.

The Board has found that the Appellant's discharge from service is not a bar to VA compensation benefits, but it was an error in fulfilling VA's duty to assist not to obtain a medical opinion addressing the extent of any psychiatric symptoms during service and their effect on the Appellant's behavior. The matter is therefore remanded for further action.