Bipolar disorder decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for bipolar disorder was denied as the earliest possible effective date is January 21, 2005.,The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability evaluation for degenerative osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with disc protrusion and extrusion at L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels prior to April 22, 2015, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter was denied as there is no evidence that the Veteran's disability worsened between January 21, 2005 and April 22, 2015.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other conditions. The evidence now shows a link between her military sexual trauma and these disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bipolar disorder. The TDIU claim will also be remanded.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is service-connected as secondary to his history of seizure disorder.,Service connection for bilateral foot disorder was granted based on direct evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of a sleep disorder related to her active duty.,Her claim for an increased rating for her psychiatric disorder, which includes bipolar disorder with depression and panic disorder without agoraphobia, remains pending. The current 70% rating reflects occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and granted it as directly incurred in service. The Veteran's statements regarding symptoms of auditory hallucinations during service are considered credible, and thus his current psychiatric disability is found to have begun during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD and bipolar disorder, is related to his service. The claim for a skin rash is also granted due to exposure to environmental hazards in Southwest Asia.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. The Board finds that the disability is presumed to have existed prior to service, and thus service connection for schizophrenia is granted.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, characterized by periodic exacerbations of symptoms including a suicide attempt and multiple hospitalizations, has been found to warrant a 70 percent rating prior to March 18, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under Chapter 35 was denied. The earliest effective dates assigned are June 9, 2011.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to clarify the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including whether any are related to service. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar/manic depression, has been withdrawn prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to an effective date of July 23, 2003 for the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder with dementia.

The Veteran's bipolar II disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional service treatment and personnel records, VA treatment records, and a supplemental medical opinion. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, is pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorders are etiologically related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including bipolar affective disorder, anxiety disorder, psychosis NOS, and schizophrenia, are related to his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension, asbestosis, testicular cancer (including prostate cancer), oral cancer, and lymph node cancer (secondary to prostate cancer). The reasons were that there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or link between these conditions and his military service.