Bipolar disorder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder were rated at 30 percent prior to April 21, 2011, and at 50 percent since then. The TDIU claim is pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other conditions, is being remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The examiner needs to provide a more detailed opinion regarding the relationship between her service and these disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by her active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including whether they are related to service or caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD disability, along with his bipolar disorder and alcohol/cannabis use disorders, has been rated at 100% effective August 1, 2016. The Board also granted TDIU beginning June 28, 2010.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development to obtain service treatment records and military personnel records, including those related to a May 1973 in-patient detoxification while stationed in Korea. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder will be evaluated based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed PTSD or depression, and his claimed acquired psychiatric disorders are not shown to be causally related to service. The initial compensable evaluation for chronic daily headaches with migrainous features is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a PTSD personal assault stressor letter and another VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorders and hearing loss/tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain an adequate VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of his psychiatric disabilities, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's current psychiatric disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining treatment records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder. The Board also found that there is sufficient evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for additional special monthly compensation based on the need for a higher level of care at the rate specified under 38 U.S.C. § 1114 (r)(1) or (r)(2) is denied as he does not meet the criteria for such an increase in SMC.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including his bipolar disorder, is not etiologically related to service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for bipolar disorder was denied. The Board found that the December 2003 rating decision denying PTSD did not contain clear and unmistakable error, as there were no medical opinions linking his current psychiatric disorders to service at that time.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a cerebral concussion (claimed as a head injury) and a psychiatric disorder are being reconsidered.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support a link between the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder) and his military service or any service-connected disabilities, including his back and knee conditions. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to the unverified stressor. The Board has now remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding his acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, psychosis, mood disorder, and bipolar disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder. The decision also grants service connection for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes PTSD and bipolar disorder.,Service connection is also granted for tinnitus. However, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim was denied.