Bipolar disorder decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's use of tobacco products was a substantial factor in causing his death, and to obtain financial information from the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining mental health treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and in need of further development regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has again remanded the Veteran's claim due to insufficient compliance with its previous remand instructions, specifically regarding an opinion on whether her diagnosed psychiatric conditions are related to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the increased rating for bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder has not been manifested by symptoms resulting in total occupational and social impairment prior to November 12, 2013.,From November 12, 2013, the Veteran's bipolar disorder has not been manifested by symptoms analogous to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to the submission of additional Federal records which require the issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, and bipolar disorder, were aggravated by her second period of active duty service. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding this issue.

The Board found clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's bipolar disorder and personality disorder preexisted her service entrance. The VA examiner opined that these conditions did not worsen during her one month active duty stint, thus denying service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher disability rating for maxillary/frontal sinusitis, service connection for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including panic attacks, bipolar disorder and depression), and migraine headaches. The current evaluation of 10 percent is deemed sufficient based on the symptoms reported.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and TDIU evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder and PTSD, that is etiologically related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of a reported in-service stressor and obtaining medical records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cognitive or acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, depression, bipolar II disorder, and a mood disorder NOS, to include as due to chemical exposure is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bipolar disorder and granted it, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support the Veteran's assertion that her pre-existing psychiatric condition was aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of bipolar I disorder was found to be related to his military service, as it is considered a direct result of the condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including schizoaffective disorder bipolar type, is found to have initially manifested during his active service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration disability benefits information and National Guard service records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new examination. The effective date of the increased rating remains under review.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature, extent, onset and etiology of any identified psychiatric disabilities.