Bipolar disorder decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his complete service personnel records and conducting a psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to address the Veteran's psychiatric disorders. The issues on appeal are whether service connection should be granted for various acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion to assess the current severity of her nonservice-connected acquired psychiatric disability, which encompasses diagnoses including bipolar disorder dysphoric mania, bipolar disorder NOS, depression, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and anxiety. The case will be reviewed by the AOJ after additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and bipolar disorder, constitutes a new claim based on distinct factual bases. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to November 21, 2005. From February 1, 2006, the rating for PTSD has been increased to 70 percent.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not establish an in-service event, injury, or disease relating to the Veteran's current right ankle disability. The preponderance of the evidence fails to establish an etiological relationship between the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right ankle and her active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The Board also found that the Veteran's bipolar disorder is related to his in-service stressors and awarded service connection for this condition as well. However, the initial evaluation for bipolar disorder remains pending due to a need for further information regarding whether PTSD represents a progression of or a separate condition from bipolar disorder.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal on the issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for a bipolar disorder and entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for hypothyroidism.

The Veteran meets the criteria for Chapter 33 educational assistance benefits (Post-9/11 GI Bill) at the 100 percent rate due to her service-connected bipolar disorder.

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

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been found to result in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim to reopen entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was filed on April 27, 1979. The effective date of June 29, 1983, is granted for the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder with psychotic features and for award of a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of his mental health treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to incomplete examination reports and other issues.

The Veteran's PTSD and bipolar disorder are service-connected as they are related to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during his Vietnam service, which aggravated his pre-existing bipolar disorder.

The Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD or bipolar disorder, that was incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bipolar disorder, coronary artery disease, hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has found that the Veteran's pre-existing impulse control disorder was aggravated by service and is now considered a current disability. The Court also found that there is a link between the Veteran's drug addiction and his service-connected psychiatric disabilities, thus granting both issues.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bipolar disorder and found that new evidence supports reopening. Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss, but not tinnitus.

The Board has vacated its January 2011 decision granting service connection for schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, and dismissed the Veteran's appeal for entitlement to service connection for claimed innocently acquired psychiatric disorder to include schizophrenia. The appellant is seeking DIC benefits based on her mother's income exceeding the maximum benefit rate.