Bipolar disorder decisions — 2016

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder to include major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder caused total occupational and social impairment from March 18, 2013. The VA assigned a 70 percent rating for this period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are so severe as to prevent her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, paranoid type. The case is now remanded to determine if the condition was aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for cause of death and entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 due to lack of legal merit, as the Veteran was not in receipt of or entitled to receive compensation at the total disability level continuously for 10 years immediately preceding his death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a hearing. The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder, to include major depressive disorder, dysthymia, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified; entitlement to a higher initial disability rating for posttraumatic stress disorder; and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability are now before the Board.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the VA examiner's opinion and for obtaining updated treatment records. The Veteran is requested to provide any additional information or evidence if needed.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, best characterized as bipolar disorder, is found to have been incurred during his first period of active duty in the Navy from September 21, 1977, to September 21, 1981. The claim for service connection is therefore granted.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder. The case has been remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records from the early 1990s and to consider the Veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's in-service stressors and to obtain updated VA treatment records. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder were evaluated at a 70 percent rating from March 23, 2011 to December 25, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder and respiratory disorders did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not fully developed and requires additional development, including verification of in-service stressors, VA examinations to address psychiatric disorders, sleep apnea, and chronic dyspnea, and procurement of relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric and low back disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right shoulder disability due to outstanding VA treatment records, in-service psychiatric records, and further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disability (other than PTSD and personality disorder) at any time since he filed his claim in December 2010 or within close proximity thereto under the DSM-IV criteria, thus denying service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records, as well as further consideration of the Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing the Veteran with examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her psychiatric disorders and low back disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and an initial rating for a compression fracture at L1-L2 are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for further development.