Bipolar disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for a schizoaffective disorder with a bipolar disorder, finding that the Veteran's in-service stress and breakdown led to his current mental health conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including bipolar and depression) and hypertension, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board also found that there was no causal relationship between the Veteran's current diagnoses of bipolar disorder, depression, and hypertension and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for broken jaw residuals was denied. For bipolar disorder, the Veteran received a 10 percent rating prior to October 18, 2011, and a 70 percent rating between October 18, 2011 and February 13, 2018. A 100 percent rating was granted as of February 14, 2018.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a psychiatric disability (to include bipolar disorder and schizophrenia), and PTSD. The appeals for service connection for gout, myositis, various musculoskeletal disabilities, sleep apnea, heart disease, ED, neuropathies, and depression are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are not related to his active duty service and are more likely due to post-military depression.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, bipolar II disorder, and borderline personality disorder, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder was reopened, but the issue of a compensable rating for chronic bronchitis prior to May 7, 2009 remains denied. The Veteran is now rated at 10% for his chronic bronchitis from May 7, 2009 onwards.,The effective date for service connection of chronic bronchitis was dismissed as the Veteran did not file a timely appeal regarding this issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed conditions. The issues include left knee disorder, right knee disorder, type 2 diabetes mellitus, stroke, and a psychiatric disorder (Bipolar Disorder and Manic Depression).

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection for bipolar disorder, as it is related to in-service Agent Orange exposure. However, due to missing private medical records and treatment histories, a thorough examination and review of all available evidence are required before a final decision can be made.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed because his service-connected bipolar disorder alone grants him a 100% disability rating, rendering the issue moot.

The Veteran's depression, bipolar disability, and prostate cancer are service connected. The Veteran is also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for diabetes mellitus, type II and its complications, as well as various eye disabilities, heart conditions, peripheral neuropathy, and psychiatric disorders. The remand is due to the need to verify the Veteran’s reported exposure to herbicides while in Panama.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lower back disorder, schizoaffective disorder with bipolar I disorder, and migraine headaches on a secondary basis to her service-connected frostbite residuals of the feet. The lumbar spinal stenosis is also considered as being related to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset in service. The Veteran's hepatitis C claim will be remanded for a supplemental medical opinion, while his psychiatric disorder claim requires additional VA treatment records and a supplemental medical opinion from a psychiatrist.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims and found that new evidence supports a current diagnosis of left shoulder strain. However, the Board denied service connection for all other claimed disabilities as they were not shown to be related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further development. The Veteran's service connection claim is related to her reported military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of loss of use, blindness, or severe burn injury. The Board found no inhalation injury and denied eligibility.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and a lack of contemporaneous medical records. The Veteran is required to undergo another VA psychiatric examination by an appropriate medical professional.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorder, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were related to any in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has determined that the July 2013 VA examination is inadequate for adjudication purposes and a new examination should be obtained on remand to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder.