Bipolar disorder decisions — 2016

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, were not incurred in or aggravated by service due to lack of verified stressors. The Veteran did not engage in combat and there is no credible evidence supporting his allegations of witnessing prisoner beatings during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, is not etiologically related to his active service. The weight of the competent evidence did not support a finding that schizophrenia with paranoia began during or was otherwise caused by the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of the case as he is no longer alive.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, and bipolar disorder, as well as his right foot disability. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The VA will obtain SSA disability records and any relevant VA treatment records from the Loma Linda and Richmond VA healthcare systems.

The Board found that discontinuation of SMC based on the need for aid and attendance was proper due to evidence showing the Veteran's service-connected bipolar affective disorder did not prevent her from performing routine activities of daily life without daily assistance.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The VA will obtain SSA disability records and any relevant VA treatment records from the Loma Linda and Richmond VA healthcare systems.

The Veteran's conversion and bipolar disorders have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 100 percent. The claim for service connection for a back disorder has been reopened, but new evidence does not establish that the current disability is related to service. The Veteran's upper and lower extremity neuropathy with numbness, weakness, and muscle pain are secondary to her bipolar disorders. Her hypothyroidism and irritable bowel syndrome have both been rated at noncompensable levels.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD and bipolar disorder are related to his in-service stressors, establishing service connection for these conditions. The Veteran's tinnitus is also established as a result of continuous symptomatology since discharge from active military service.

The Veteran does not have bipolar disorder and the Board finds that service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and insufficient evidence of a link between service and the Veteran's psychiatric disorders. The Veteran will be scheduled for a new VA examination to determine if his current psychiatric conditions are related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's schizoaffective disorder-bipolar type was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not shown to be etiologically related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is remanded as the disability rating needs to be assigned first.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and private medical records. The appellant's claim of service connection for the cause of her husband's death is being reviewed.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder has been granted effective from May 29, 2007. He is entitled to a temporary total rating due to hospitalization in excess of 21 days for treatment of his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his mood disorder with progression to bipolar disorder.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include schizophrenia, a bipolar disorder, and anorexia nervosa due to incomplete records and need for further verification.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to verify his claimed stressors and provide him with VCAA notice regarding the methods for substantiating a claim for PTSD related to a personal assault stressor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The hypertension requires continuous medication and places the evidence in equipoise so as to warrant a 10 percent evaluation. For the neck scar, the initial compensable rating prior to October 23, 2008 is denied.