Bipolar disorder decisions — 2017

The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disorder, which he claims is related to his military service. The Board has decided that the case should be remanded due to the need to consider secondary service connection and obtain additional medical records.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including claimed PTSD, is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or due to service and there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and did not have an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD that manifested in service or was otherwise etiologically related to his military service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The VA examiner found that the diagnosed anti-social personality disorder is not an acquired psychiatric disorder but rather a constitutional or developmental abnormality, and did not address whether there was additional disability due to aggravation of this condition by a superimposed disease or injury.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been reopened, but the Board finds that new evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a new opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no credible evidence of a relationship between his current disabilities and military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder with major depressive episodes and post-traumatic stress disorder render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, leading the Board to grant TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, psychotic disorder, mood disorder, and intermittent explosive disorder is being remanded due to insufficient examination reports. The Board will seek a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression. The evidence did not establish a current diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service stressors or combat experience. The Veteran's personality disorder was found not to be a disease or injury for VA compensation purposes. There is no competent opinion linking any current acquired psychiatric disorders to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is related to her in-service sexual trauma and finds that the benefit of doubt should be resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, specifically bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board found no current diagnosis of sinusitis and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection. The psychiatric conditions were not related to service, and fibromyalgia was not related to service either.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been withdrawn. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and there is insufficient evidence to corroborate her in-service stressor.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's complete service treatment records, specifically those from his Reserve unit. The VA also needs to obtain private mental health treatment records and provide a VA psychiatric examination to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including alcohol use disorder and bipolar illness, are not service connected as they did not manifest during service or are not etiologically related to service. The pre-existing conditions were aggravated by military service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disability including schizophrenia, depression, mood disorder, and bipolar disorder. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to obtain updated treatment records and schedule the Veteran for a VA mental health examination to determine the nature, extent, onset, and etiology of his claimed psychiatric disorders.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosed psychiatric disorders are not etiologically related to his active duty service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of her appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder with PTSD, and also alleges clear and unmistakable error in a November 1999 rating decision. The case must be remanded to address both issues.