Bipolar disorder decisions — 2016

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as bipolar disorder, is related to his active service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives and the need for further examination.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic disease in service or within one year following service, and the Veteran's lay testimony regarding his onset of psychiatric disorder was not credible. The Board also found that there is no probative evidence linking any current left knee condition or frostbite residuals to service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with bipolar disorder has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board has granted a 100 percent rating for this condition. The issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error in the February 2008 rating decision denying service connection for COPD is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bipolar disorder clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service, and was not aggravated during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the initial ratings for bipolar disorder with PTSD, left ear hearing loss, and residual scar of the left jaw.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 9, 2012 for the grant of a 100 percent disability rating for bipolar disorder is denied as there was no factually ascertainable increase in severity within one year before his July 9, 2012 formal claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and entitlement to a TDIU due to incomplete records, need for another examination, and inextricability of the issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. The Veteran's current anxiety disorder is found to be unrelated to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for additional development of his service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically bipolar disorder. The claims file will be reviewed and necessary records obtained from various sources including the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), SSA, and private medical providers. A VA examination will also be scheduled to determine the current nature and likely etiology of any diagnosed mental disorders.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as bipolar disorder, is denied because she failed to report for scheduled VA examinations and there is no medical evidence establishing a nexus between her current psychiatric condition and military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, intermittent explosive disorder, bipolar type II, depressive disorder, and mood disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of records.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inconsistencies in diagnoses and need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder is found to be related to an in-service personal assault, and the claim for service connection is granted. The ED is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD. New and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for left knee disability, hypertension, and bilateral eye disability.

The Veteran's unspecified bipolar disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder were found to have their onset during service, warranting service connection. The claim for PTSD was denied as there is no corroborated in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing records and incomplete information, including service treatment records, VCAA notice response, VA examination report, and private medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is now pending with the Baltimore RO.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and SMC on account of being housebound are dismissed as the Board's decision denying these claims is final.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death. The issues on appeal were whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen a claim of residuals of head trauma, and the entitlement to service connection for various disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule a VA examination for his right ankle disability. The issues of increased ratings for bipolar disorder, knee osteoarthritis, and initial rating for the right ankle sprain are also pending.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional evidence and determine whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for a mental disorder, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizoaffective disorder bipolar type, and mood disorder.