Bipolar disorder decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, and psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and VA examinations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD and bipolar disorder are related to his military service, with the in-service stressor being fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service in Saudi Arabia as an operating room specialist. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for a new hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder with PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks prior to April 3, 2015. Beginning on April 3, 2015, the disability resulted in more severe impairment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, to allow for a travel board hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia paranoid type, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder NOS, mood disorder, and schizoaffective disorder depressive type, is presumptively related to his service due to a diagnosis within one year of separation.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes bipolar disorder/depression and PTSD. The case is being remanded to obtain Social Security Administration records that may contain relevant treatment information.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is found to be related to service-connected arthritis. The Board also finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, granting his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than bipolar disorder, depression and schizoaffective disorder, to include PTSD was denied as there is no credible evidence of a stressor related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder and paranoid schizophrenia have rendered him incompetent to handle disbursement of VA funds.

The Veteran's claim for basic eligibility for education assistance benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill is granted because she served at least 30 days of active duty and was discharged due to a service-connected disability (bipolar disorder).

The Veteran's bipolar disorder has been rated at 70 percent since May 13, 2011. The rating is based on the severity of his symptoms and their impact on occupational and social functioning.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and PTSD, was incurred as a result of events during service. The heart disease was not incurred in service or due to herbicide exposure, but may be presumed based on onset soon after service. The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims file and a VA examination.

The Veteran's schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type was initially rated at 50 percent and later increased to 100 percent effective April 2, 2014. The Board granted a higher initial rating for the disability but denied earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder with generalized anxiety disorder was productive of occupational and social impairment, resulting in a 70 percent rating from September 22, 2007 to March 3, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed PTSD. The claim for TDIU based on bipolar disorder was also denied due to the disability not meeting the schedular criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of medical records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, PTSD, and depression. The case is REMANDED to obtain SSA disability records and VA treatment records from Benton Harbor and Battle Creek facilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing before the RO.