Bipolar disorder decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals to reopen his claims for bilateral knee condition and acquired psychiatric disorder as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder was reopened due to the receipt of relevant official service department records. However, the evidence does not show a nexus between his current psychiatric condition and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while his claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed mental disorders, including whether any are related to service or sexual trauma in-service. The Veteran is required to provide records from private or VA treatment providers and a VA examination will be scheduled.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and his military service. The Veteran was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2001, but there is no medical opinion linking it to his service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating of 50 percent for his service-connected bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the passage of time since his last VA examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, was granted an initial rating of 70 percent prior to June 23, 2005.,From June 23, 2005, the Veteran is granted a 100 percent rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder and anxiety, was restored to 100 percent from August 1, 2013 to May 1, 2017.

The Board has determined that an updated VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran meets the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, as his current symptoms may be related to undiagnosed PTSD from service. The Veteran's previous diagnoses of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and adjustment disorder are in conflict with a potential diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including cyclothymic disorder, bipolar disorder, ADHD, anxiety, polysubstance abuse, and schizoaffective disorder is granted. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board is unable to make a determination on the service connection claim due to uncertainty regarding where and when the Veteran was diagnosed with his psychiatric disorders. The case is being sent back for further development.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus was denied, but the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea were reopened. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted, while service connection for both tinnitus and sleep apnea remains denied.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as service connected. The remaining issues of service connection for shoulder and cervical spine disabilities, increased ratings for GERD, left knee meniscus tear and degenerative arthritis, lumbar strain, and bilateral hearing loss are dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bipolar disorder and depression have been reopened, but the Board has not granted these claims as they are denied due to lack of evidence establishing a current disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is denied as there is no competent and credible evidence linking the current diagnosis to his military service.

The Veteran's MDD is rated at 50 percent, and the Board has remanded for further evaluation of her hip disabilities and TDIU claim. The effective date for the increased rating remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disability, right knee degenerative joint disease, right eye glaucoma, and hearing loss in both ears. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of a nexus to service.,There is no credible evidence linking the current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records, completion of a Veterans Application for Increased Compensation based on Unemployability form, and scheduling of a VA mental health examination.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted, and he is now entitled to a rating of 30% for mood disorder effective March 7, 1995.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed military sexual trauma (MST) and its impact on her psychiatric conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder all stemming from an alleged in-service MST.