Bipolar disorder decisions — 2017

The Board finds that the Veteran's substantive appeal was not timely filed as to his claims of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection and increased rating for bipolar and schizoaffective disorders, resulting in a denial as a matter of law.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of new medical evidence.

The Board has determined that an effective date of September 1, 1971 is warranted for the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA psychiatric examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including but not limited to major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and social anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's dysthymic disorder and bipolar disorder were granted service connection, with the initial rating of 30 percent for dysthymic disorder prior to October 7, 2014, and a subsequent increase to 30 percent for bipolar disorder from October 7, 2014. The Veteran's low back disability was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder, was not manifested in and is not otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is found to be incurred in service, resolving all reasonable doubt in her favor.

The Veteran's claim for an extension of his delimiting date for Montgomery GI Bill benefits beyond August 28, 2009 is denied because the evidence does not show that he was medically infeasible to pursue an educational program due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bipolar disorder with conversion disorder was granted, and the effective date is set at February 11, 2010.

The Veteran's unspecified bipolar disorder with depression, anxiety disorder, and mixed borderline paranoid and dependent personality traits has not been manifested by total social and occupational impairment. Therefore, the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent is denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, manifested during his active military service and the Board finds that it is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing treatment records and for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disabilities, including depression and bipolar disorder, are related to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (Bipolar Disorder) and denied service connection for a right knee disorder. The decision is mixed as it grants one claim but denies another.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder has been rated at 50 percent since June 14, 2010. The Board finds that the disability picture warrants a higher rating due to worsening symptoms.

The Board found that the appellant's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, was not incurred or aggravated by her period of active duty service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's reported stressors are consistent with his military service and supported by medical evidence. Service connection for Bipolar Disorder II in partial remission is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bipolar disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and thus denied his claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than anxiety and mood disorders, to include PTSD, polysubstance abuse, and/or bipolar disorders, to also include as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disability, and an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for a lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the RO did not substantially comply with its July 2015 remand instructions and thus, this matter must be remanded for full compliance.