Bipolar disorder decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of in-service stressors and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was rated as 70 percent disabling from August 6, 2003 to January 30, 2006, and he is currently unemployable due to his PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of bipolar disorder or PTSD, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining missing VA and private medical records, obtaining service personnel records, and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of any currently diagnosed psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for low back and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depression with psychotic features and bipolar disorder, was rated at 50% prior to March 18, 2008. From March 18, 2008 to August 7, 2013, the rating increased to 70%. Prior to September 20, 2012, he did not meet criteria for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. From September 20, 2012, he met these criteria.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, are not related to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The weight of the evidence is against finding that any such disability had its onset during service or as a result of in-service stressors. As such, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorder is denied.

The Veteran's current chronic back disorder is not shown to have been present during his military service or for many years thereafter, nor is it related to the Veteran's military service. The Board finds that service connection for a chronic back disorder is not warranted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders and any other claimed residuals of a head injury are not related to service or any event of service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge to address the issues of severance of service connection and increased rating for bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn due to his satisfaction with the VA's determination, and thus the issue of an increased evaluation for his service-connected psychiatric disability is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a video conference hearing on her bipolar disorder claim and for scheduling a VA audiological examination to address the current severity of her service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied as the evidence did not corroborate his reported in-service stressors and there is no medical opinion linking any diagnosed psychiatric disorders to service. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Bipolar disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his service in Iraq. The decision is based on direct evidence of a link between current PTSD symptoms and an in-service stressor.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a total rating based upon individual unemployability due to service connected disability prior to May 3, 2007. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD and bipolar disorder have been granted service connection, but the Board found that they do not warrant a rating higher than 70 percent. The TDIU claim was also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and iatrogenic poly systemic chronic candidiasis due to allergic reaction to sulfonamides has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for ankylosis of the left little finger with arthritis is granted, and he is currently rated at 20 percent. The TDIU issue remains unresolved.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and basic eligibility for VA nonservice-connected pension benefits was denied due to lack of qualifying wartime service.