Bipolar disorder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim to reopen the endometriosis was also denied.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder was rated at 50 percent from April 2, 2009 until January 4, 2011 and denied for a higher rating. Since January 4, 2011, the Veteran's bipolar disorder has not met the criteria for a higher than 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, did not manifest during service or were not aggravated by service. The preexisting conditions are presumed to have existed prior to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, was not incurred or aggravated by service and is not related to any in-service event. The VA examiner found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found the evidence in relative equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's bipolar disorder had onset during his period of service, and granted service connection for bipolar disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. The heart disorder is also not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's reports of past sexual abuse and harassment, as well as his service treatment records indicating a perforated eardrum. The Veteran is requested to provide any private psychiatric treatment records from November 1979 to November 1997.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability and residuals of bilateral toe surgery, concluding that his personality disorder pre-existed service and is not related to military service. The Veteran was also unable to establish a current disability due to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an examination to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorders are related to service.

[object Object]

The Veteran's PTSD does not result in total social and occupational impairment, thus the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder and adjustment disorder with depressed mood have been rated at 10 percent since August 2012. The rating is based on the symptoms of mild memory problems, depressed mood, suicidal ideation, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, inability to establish and maintain effective relationships, and suicidal ideation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's mood disorder is at least as likely as not related to his military service, including due to multiple stressors and traumatic events. However, there is conflicting evidence regarding other claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination for his service-connected bipolar disorder and for updated VA treatment records. The TDIU claim has also been raised by the record.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as bipolar disorder, is service-connected. The rating for his scar of the right leg, status post gunshot wound, remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder and adjustment disorder have caused total occupational and social impairment since July 7, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, other than PTSD, were not incurred or aggravated by her active duty service and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, MDD, and bipolar disorder. However, the underlying claim of service connection cannot be reached due to lack of a nexus between active duty service and these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's bipolar disorder and Hepatitis A vaccination residuals are not related to his service.,Both conditions were denied as there was no evidence of an in-service event or injury leading to these disabilities.