Bipolar disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or depression. The diagnoses provided by VA examiners indicate these conditions are not related to service. Service connection for alcohol dependency/abuse and lupus is also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private records of his psychiatric treatment and scheduling him for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for bipolar affective disorder was granted at a rate of 70 percent, and he is also granted TDIU.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective from July 18, 2008. The claims for PTSD, right knee disability (secondary to left foot disability), and increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease are dismissed.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disability, specifically bipolar disorder. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bipolar disorder is due to his in-service exposure to arsenic, and thus service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to missed VA psychiatric evaluations and requests for a new evaluation to determine if the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his active service from July 1976 to July 1980.