Bipolar disorder decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a VA examination and requests that he provide specific details of his reported stressors. The case is also being remanded to obtain medical records from various facilities.

The claim for PTSD has been denied as there is no verified stressor event in service. The claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, including depression and bipolar disorder, was reopened but remains denied due to lack of evidence linking the current conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as his symptoms do not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to scheduling issues and the appellant's request for a rescheduled hearing.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety, are not etiologically related to active service. The preponderance of the competent and credible evidence of record is against a finding that any current bilateral hearing loss disability was incurred in or is related to active service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues of entitlement to a greater initial rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and entitlement to service connection for alcohol and drug abuse have been dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms became sufficient to meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD starting from November 7, 2005. The Board granted service connection for PTSD with an effective date of November 7, 2005.

The Board found no evidence of in-service stressors or service connection for PTSD and anxiety. The Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including bipolar disorder, were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea with restless leg syndrome has been reopened. His bipolar disorder with PTSD is rated at the maximum allowable under the rating criteria, and his other issues are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder does not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to its severity, as it is rated at 30 percent and does not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral eye condition, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision found no current residual disability due to the in-service eye injury and ruled out causation of the Veteran's headaches by the in-service incident.,Service connection was not granted as secondary to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in most cases, with the exception of chronic rhinosinusitis.

The Veteran is entitled to reimbursement or payment for the costs of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during a period of hospitalization from March 14 to March 20, 2012, at McLaren Lapeer Regional Medical Center due to a medical emergency involving a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder has been rated at 70 percent since the initial grant of service connection, effective October 9, 2012. The Board found that his disability warranted a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran meets the service requirements for Vietnam service and is permanently and totally disabled from nonservice-connected disability not due to his willful misconduct. The appeal is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type is due to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran is not competent to handle his VA benefits due to mental health issues and financial mismanagement, as determined by multiple medical evaluations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bipolar disorder contributed substantially and materially to his death, which was caused by metastatic melanoma. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied, but he is granted service connection for bipolar disorder. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted and others not.