Bipolar disorder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is rated at 100% effective August 6, 2018. The lumbar spasm and degenerative arthritis are rated at 40%. These ratings remain pending further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, and mood disorder, has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claim is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate reasons and basis for denying service connection, failure to obtain potential of outstanding private treatment records from Methodist Healthcare, and failure to consider entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric condition other than PTSD. The Veteran's representative indicates that the private treatment records are no longer available, and they have requested a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bipolar disorder is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnosis of bipolar disorder had its onset during his active duty service and affirms the grant of service connection. Service connection for left and right knee disabilities are remanded due to lack of medical evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected alcohol abuse is granted, as it is aggravated by his service connected major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder and chronic sleep impairment. The rating for major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder and chronic sleep impairment is increased to 70 percent from August 12, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. Additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bipolar disorder is granted for the period prior to April 17, 2017. For the period beginning April 17, 2017, the claim is denied as there is no evidence of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and substance use disorder due to conflicting diagnoses, lack of clarity in the Veteran's history, and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder and a 100% rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and bipolar disorder. The TDIU claim is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100% rating.

The Veteran's bipolar affective disorder, mixed, was previously rated at 50% prior to March 25, 2015. Since then, it has been rated at 70%. The Board found the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bipolar disorder began during his active duty service and affords him the benefit of doubt, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal to receive a higher rating for her bipolar I Disorder prior to May 9, 2017 has been withdrawn by the appellant and their representative.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right wrist, finger, neck, left leg, right leg, left knee, right knee, right ankle, left foot, and right foot disabilities are denied as there is no current diagnosis of a chronic disability in any of these areas.,Service connection for headache (including migraines), bipolar disorder, and eating disorder were also denied due to lack of evidence supporting the presence of such conditions during service or their relationship to service.

The Board has granted the application to reopen the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, depression, and PTSD. The claim is also granted as the evidence supports a relationship between the veteran's current psychiatric condition and her military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder and remanded other issues including GERD, tonsillectomy residuals, and right knee disability. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional records, provide a VA examination, and determine if there is new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's disability will be recharacterized as an acquired psychiatric disorder to include both conditions.

The Veteran's disability rating for bipolar disorder was restored from 50% to 70%, effective March 1, 2016. The decision found that the evidence did not show a material improvement in his condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, had its onset during service. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of all evidence, including new medical records from 1996.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches and bipolar disorder (previously claimed as explosive personality disorder) is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.