Bipolar disorder decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to his active military service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with bipolar disorder and dementia resulted in occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The VA determined that a 70 percent disability rating was warranted for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and the evidence does not support a finding that any other acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with a history of bipolar disorder, along with his other conditions, warrants an increased disability rating and TDIU from October 28, 1993 to June 3, 2008. The Veteran also received SMC based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, scheduling a VA psychiatric examination, and readjudicating the claim.

The Veteran is not entitled to an effective date earlier than September 9, 2009 for a 100% rating for his acquired psychiatric disability. He was initially granted service connection in 1955 but the decision did not specify the exact diagnosis or grant a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's bipolar disorder had its onset during active service, and thus grants service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include a bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records from Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's claim for a higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) at the special aid and attendance rate is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess her service-connected bladder incontinence, memory impairment with bipolar disorder, left upper extremity disability, and right upper extremity disability. The increased ratings claims are also being remanded as they are dependent on the outcome of these assessments.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder, were denied as there is no competent evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service event, injury, or disease. The Board found that the Veteran's statements attributing his symptoms to employment, financial problems, family issues, political issues, social stressors, and health problems are not credible.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The claim for PTSD was denied as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis in accordance with VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including bipolar disorder and depression) are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder; a heart disorder; and a right lower extremity disorder. The low back disorder was granted as service connected on a direct basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the submission of additional relevant evidence since the last Board decision. The case will be reviewed and potentially reopened based on this new evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD due to an in-service personal assault, is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since June 16, 2009. The Board found that the current level of disability warrants a 100 percent rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's non-service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating necessary to qualify for non-service-connected pension benefits.

The Board found that the Veteran's bipolar disorder did not have onset during service and is not related to his period of active duty, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include bipolar disorder, is denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause. The Board finds that substantial compliance with the August 2013 remand orders was not achieved as it relates to this issue.