Bipolar disorder decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disabilities are not etiologically related to active military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder, were not incurred in or caused by his military service. The Board found that the conditions are more likely due to his own willful misconduct with alcohol and substance abuse.

The Veteran's PTSD with bipolar disorder is currently rated as 70 percent disabling, effective September 24, 2007. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current mental disorders are not related to service, including his period of AWOL and the April 1979 treatment for depression and diagnosis of adjustment reaction to adult life.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the appellant's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, fibromyalgia, and TMJ disorder. The appellant's current conditions are not shown to be related to her military service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, mood disorder, and dysthymic disorder. The Board finds that a VA examination with medical nexus opinion is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of his current psychiatric disorders.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for bipolar disorder and did not address the TDIU claim.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and granted service connection for chondromalacia of the right knee. The psychiatric claim was remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset or etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD with bipolar mood disorder was found to cause occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizoaffective disorder, which is related to his service, warrants service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically bipolar disorder, is related to his military service. The appeal will be reconsidered after this development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is found to have been incurred during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and other mental health conditions, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of her claims file.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, most recently diagnosed as Depressive Disorder, NOS, on a secondary basis to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bipolar disorder did not manifest during service and is not related to active service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are not shown to be due to a disease or injury in service, and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a disability manifested by unexplained behavior, claimed as Gulf War syndrome, and left ankle disability have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran is already service connected for bipolar disorder, which includes symptoms of inappropriate behavior. For the left ankle disability claim, there was no evidence of current disability or in-service injury.