Bipolar disorder decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the Veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses and their relationship to his military service. The case will be remanded for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran currently meets the criteria for a diagnosis of unspecified trauma-related disorder related to his in-service personal assault. The claim will be adjudicated again after the additional development is completed.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address whether any psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and bipolar disorder is related to service, and if so, to determine its effective date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted with an effective date of March 24, 1972.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder was granted service connection, and the issue of whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen a claim for bilateral recurrent pneumothoraces (lung condition) was withdrawn. The Veteran is also entitled to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for right foot drop due to VA medical treatment.

The Board found that the appellant did not have an acquired psychiatric disorder during his period of active duty for training and that the current psychiatric disorders are not related to injury or disease incurred in service. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder was denied as there is no evidence of a prior informal or formal claim filed before April 22, 2005.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bipolar disorder and granted it, finding that there is at least as likely as not a link between the Veteran's in-service experiences and his current disability.,The Board also granted TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder, finding that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for bipolar disorder (now claimed as a mood disorder identified as bipolar disorder with depression). The claims for increased ratings for left knee DJD and internal derangement remain denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including scheduling a hearing before the Board.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA mental disorders examination to clarify diagnoses and determine whether any current psychiatric disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities, particularly bipolar disorder, right knee disability, and right fifth finger disability. The goal is to determine if these conditions render him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, GAD, OCD, bipolar disorder NOS, and schizoaffective disorder, are found to have had their onset during ACDUTRA service and have recurred since then.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of psychiatric treatment rendered at the Clifton Springs Hospital between March 12, 2008 and April 9, 2008 is granted as it meets the criteria for reimbursement due to a medical emergency.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate examination and incomplete records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD and bipolar affective disorder, but the examiner found no PTSD on the basis of lack of in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been withdrawn.,Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (Bipolar Disorder).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to his in-service sexual assault and therefore grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was incurred in active duty due to military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, was incurred in active service.