Bipolar disorder decisions — 2015

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining clarification of when a sexual assault occurred and obtaining records related to any sexually transmitted disease. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The VA Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than his service-connected bipolar disorder (now, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type), and headaches. The evidence does not support a finding of such conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the claimed conditions and insufficient medical nexus opinions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, and finds that her pre-existing condition worsened during active duty. The Veteran is granted service connection for recurrent major depression and bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to confusion regarding the type and location of hearing requested. The case will be handled by scheduling a video-conference hearing in Waco, Texas.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the purpose of obtaining additional VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The claims will be readjudicated based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's claims for bipolar disorder, GERD, IBS, and bilateral hearing loss were denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship to service or service-connected conditions. The Board found that the Veteran did not provide sufficient cooperation during VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of stressors and a psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a mental health examination. The case will be reconsidered with consideration of all evidence, including her reports of worsening urinary frequency.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional development and clarification of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and addressing whether there was an in-service personal assault.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder NOS, and anxiety disorder NOS, is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records, provide an updated VA examination, and consider all submitted evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to in-service sexual trauma, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD remains denied and is still on appeal. The RO awarded service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder (previously diagnosed as bipolar disorder) effective in February 2011, resulting in a net award of $30,243 to the Veteran. The appellant was granted attorney/agent fees for past-due benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran not receiving notice of his scheduled videoconference hearing, and another attempt should be made to schedule him for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and service personnel records. The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The evidence is at least in equipoise that the condition arose during a period of active duty or ACDUTRA, specifically his Gulf War deployment from August to September 1990. As such, service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered part of the same disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, to include schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, did not have its onset during active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is service connected, as it resulted from an injury in service. The psychiatric disabilities and hypertension are also found to be related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and schizoaffective/bipolar disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The Veteran also meets criteria for SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ.