Bipolar disorder decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain relevant medical records and for a new VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder(s).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and bipolar disorder, is granted as his claimed in-service stressor involving witnessing incoming artillery fire from hostile enemy forces in Beirut while serving aboard the USS TICONDEROGA has been independently verified and supports a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and there is no evidence of an in-service incurrence or aggravation of an acquired psychiatric disorder. As such, service connection for any psychiatric disability was denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bipolar disorder is related to military sexual trauma (MST) during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD. On remand, the Veteran will be provided notice regarding secondary service connection and a VA examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to corroborate a claimed stressor related to the Veteran's son's birth and subsequent passing, as well as obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical intervertebral disc syndrome, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to her in-service neck injury. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD remains pending and will be addressed further.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, other than bipolar disorder, has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been reopened and granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed PTSD is related to his service in Vietnam.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, to include bipolar disorder and PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA mental health treatment records and arranging for a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision on his claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for bipolar disorder (claimed as manic depression and posttraumatic stress disorder).

The Board found that the weight of evidence is against finding a nexus between any in-service incident, to include mental health treatment, and the Veteran's currently diagnosed bipolar disorder with schizophrenic features. The Board also noted that there was no documentation of schizophrenia from within one year of the Veteran's 1981 discharge.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing psychiatric conditions, including major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, were not aggravated by his military service. The VA examiner concluded that any current mental health issues are more likely related to his long history of alcohol use.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically bipolar disorder with major depressive disorder, has been rated at 100% since June 17, 2010, due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and a VA medical opinion to determine the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability. The appeal is currently in process.

The Board found that the Veteran did not file an informal or formal claim for a compensable rating for bipolar disorder prior to September 3, 1996. The effective date of the 100% disability rating was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are not related to his active duty service.

The Board found that the evidence does not establish an in-service event, injury, or disease relating her current acquired psychiatric disorder, peptic ulcer disease, peri-rectal ulcerations, degenerative arthritis, low back disability, and bilateral hearing loss to either of her periods of ACDUTRA. As such, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD, with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, more nearly approximates total occupational and social impairment.