Bipolar disorder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and depression/anxiety as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities, was reopened but denied on the merits.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating or total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's daughter, A.D., was found to be permanently incapable of self-support prior to her 18th birthday due to her bipolar disorder and psychotic symptoms.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete information and need for further development, including obtaining records from the Veteran's service, treatment during his withdrawal from university, and in-service stressor verification.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 100 percent since March 9, 2010. The Board has granted a rating of 100 percent for the entire period under review.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder and awarded nonservice-connected pension benefits. The Veteran's bipolar disorder is found to have first manifested during his active duty, supported by in-service treatment records and the Veteran's lay statements.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for schizoaffective disorder with bipolar disorder and hypertension were denied, as the effective date cannot be earlier than March 14, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including bipolar disorder and depression, as well as an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and is granted. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of the claim, including a diagnosis of PTSD from VA treatment records and statements from the Veteran regarding in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. The Veteran's symptoms began in or are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD, anxiety, and depression was denied in August 2011. New evidence has reopened the claim, and service connection is granted for PTSD with bipolar disorder.,Service connection is also granted for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for adjustment reaction and bipolar disorder was denied as there is no provision in the law for awarding an earlier effective date based simply on the presence of the disability.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and other conditions, should be remanded for further action due to incomplete service treatment records and the need to obtain additional information from SSA.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on foot pain and cramps, headaches, and carpal tunnel syndrome have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The Board will consider these issues once the new evidence is provided.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder, finding that the Veteran's preexisting condition was aggravated by his active duty service.

Your claims for service connection related to migraine headaches, bilateral eye disability, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence addressing whether his current disabilities are related to his military service. Additional medical opinions and examinations are needed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's discharge was due to misconduct and he did not serve a full term, thus his Under Honorable Conditions (general) discharge is not a bar to VA benefits. He has also been denied service connection for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

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