Bipolar disorder decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for further development to obtain relevant records and provide an explanation of the examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed stressor event.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims, finding that her skin disability warranted only a 10% rating and her bipolar disorder did not warrant a rating in excess of 50%. The evidence showed that her bipolar disorder caused occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency but no deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorders, specifically addressing his contentions that witnessing two fires during service and feeling threatened by other service members contributed to or exacerbated his current psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as bipolar disorder, was not present in service and did not develop due to a disease or injury during service. The Board found that the current diagnosis of bipolar disorder developed many years after service.

The Board found that the appellant's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depressive disorder and bipolar disorder with anxiety, were not incurred or aggravated by his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in 1987. The examiner diagnosed antisocial personality disorder and pedophilia, which are related to the appellant's reported history of engaging in sexual acts with minors during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and verifying the Veteran's service dates. The claim will be reconsidered based on all evidence received.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder and depression have been granted a disability rating of 70 percent since May 31, 2006. She has also been granted TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bipolar disorder with major depressive disorder is related to service and grants this claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's left knee disability is found to be service-connected, while the claims for bilateral hearing loss and a psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, but the issue of secondary service connection for bipolar disorder to include as secondary to hepatitis C is not resolved due to lack of a VA examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that a supplemental opinion is necessary regarding the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disability and low back disability. The case is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records, secure missing service treatment records, and schedule the Veteran for a VA mental disorders examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records from 1976 to August 1992, as well as any service clinical records. A VA psychiatric examination is also required.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of her bipolar disorder and to assess the current severity of her service-connected PTSD. The issues of TDIU and service connection for bipolar disorder are also inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, which is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing an opinion on whether the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is related to military service or aggravated by his service-connected IBS.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for various conditions, and the Board has determined that these claims are inextricably intertwined with other issues. The case is therefore REMANDED to schedule a videoconference hearing before the undersigned VLJ.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, paranoid type, schizophreniform disorder, and bipolar disorder. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's current psychiatric disability, diagnosed as bipolar disorder and/or schizoaffective disorder, is found to have been incurred in service. The Board granted service connection for all of the Veteran's current psychiatric symptomatology.