Bipolar disorder decisions — 2017

The Board determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD and found a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. The claim for service connection for other acquired psychiatric disorders is granted based on new evidence.

The Veteran does not have a current disability of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder. The Board finds that the evidence does not support service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders did not manifest in service and are not otherwise etiologically related to his military service.

The Board found service connection for bipolar disorder granted, but denied service connection for headaches or residuals of a head injury.,For the right wrist and carpal tunnel syndrome issues, the Veteran's current ratings were upheld.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The right thumb condition was rated at 30 percent, effective June 1, 2004.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD is as likely as not related to in-service personal assault, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's OSA is found to be secondary to his service-connected COPD. The initial rating for bipolar disorder has been granted at 30 percent, and the residuals of right pleuritis and right basal pneumonia with COPD have also received a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's initial higher rating of 70 percent for bipolar disorder has been granted, effective as of the date service connection was established (May 29, 2008).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records and medical records relied upon in considering those benefits.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including mood disorder, bipolar disorder, and adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The Board has determined that an examination is needed to determine the likely etiology of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting psychiatric condition, presumed to have existed prior to service, was not aggravated by active duty and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bipolar affective disorder has been withdrawn by his authorized representative.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination and opinions regarding the severity of his service-connected psychiatric disability, as well as whether his alcohol abuse is secondary to or caused by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities result in a functional impairment of being able to perform only sedentary work, and they overshadow any professional skills acquired during and after service. The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU due to combined rating of 70 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia and granted it, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted. The Veteran now has a current diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder with bipolar type.

The Board found no evidence of a neck injury during service and concluded that the Veteran's current neck disability is not related to his military service. For the psychiatric claims, the VA examiner noted in-service mental health treatment but concluded there was insufficient evidence linking the current conditions to service.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a chronic psychiatric disability other than personality disorder present in service or for several years thereafter, and the current psychiatric disability is not etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA psychiatric examination to determine her current psychiatric diagnosis and its etiology. The TDIU claim is deferred pending resolution of the acquired psychiatric disorder claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Appellant's psychiatric disorders are related to her service.

The Veteran died in July 2013 due to recurrent aspiration pneumonitis, which was not service-connected.,The Veteran had a history of bipolar disorder rated at 100% disability prior to his death.