Bipolar disorder decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for an adjustment disorder with anxious and depressed mood, but not for the other claimed psychiatric conditions or endometriosis.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bipolar disorder is not related to active service or any incident of service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Appellant's pre-existing acquired psychiatric disability existed prior to his entry into service and did not worsen during service. Therefore, he was denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting diagnoses and inadequacies of the November 2010 VA examination. A new VA examination by a different VA psychologist or psychiatrist is needed to determine the nature and etiology of all diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The Veteran is seeking service connection for psychiatric disabilities and low back issues.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder NOS and bipolar disorder, finding that these conditions are etiologically related to the Veteran's active service. The issues of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy, left leg; a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for internal derangement, right knee status post meniscectomy; and entitlement to TDIU have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for a hearing before a traveling member of the Board of Veterans' Appeals sitting at the RO as soon as practicable.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a videoconference hearing due to the Veteran's request, and will not make any determination on the merits of the service connection claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hemorrhoids, arthritis of the hands and cervical spine and side-effects of medicine (formerly claimed as osteopathic conditions and side-effects of medicine), diverticulitis, herniated esophagus, bilateral cataracts, presbyopia, and thin spots in the retina, hepatitis, umbilical and groin hernias, impotence, allergies, neurological bladder disease, edema of the lower extremities, residuals of a head injury, sexually transmitted disease, residuals of a throat trauma, hypothyroidism, memory loss, benign prostatic hypertrophy. The Veteran's currently diagnosed bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder not otherwise specified are etiologically related to his military service.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is found to be etiologically related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder is caused or aggravated by his service, specifically stressors reported while stationed in either Iraq or Saudi Arabia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder has been reopened, and he is now receiving a 100% rating for his bipolar disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing due to the Veteran's request and because the increased rating issue is inextricably intertwined with the severance issue.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected due to in-service stressors involving fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. The other conditions are not addressed by the decision.

The Veteran is entitled to an effective date of October 28, 2009 for the assignment of a 100 percent disability rating for bipolar disorder.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim, finding that her residential facility provides necessary custodial care and thus all unreimbursed fees paid to this facility are deductible medical expenses for the purpose of calculating her countable income towards nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining the Veteran's complete personnel records and possibly outstanding private treatment records. The Veteran is also to be scheduled for a VA examination to determine if any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders are causally related to active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before a decision can be reached on the merits of the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and bipolar disorder. The case is REMANDED for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records of the Veteran's mental health treatment in 1973 and clarifying whether any current acquired psychiatric disability is related to service.

The Board has determined that additional development of the claim is required due to a need for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.