Bipolar disorder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 20, 2013.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate VA examination and provide the Veteran with proper legal standards for his service connection claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a cognitive and/or acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current bipolar disorder, type II, to disease or injury in service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to support other diagnoses such as major depression/depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, anxiety disorder, PTSD, or ADHD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and psychosis, is related to his active duty service and granted presumptively under the PACT Act.

The Board has determined that new evidence received since the last statement of the case shows a worsening of symptoms and remands the case for further evaluation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder and remanded it for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing an examination to determine the etiology of his psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the claims for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions. A new VA examination is needed to address the Veteran's reported stressors in service and their relationship to his current psychiatric diagnoses.

The Board denied service connection for bipolar disorder, finding that the condition is not related to service or caused by service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorder, including whether it is related to service or caused by a service-connected disability.

The Board has dismissed all effective date claims as there are no pending issues of service connection or rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of the claimed acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficient to render him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The appeals concerning the claims of residuals of a left eye injury, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 100% rating, effective from the date of his claim. The decision also grants entitlement to a TDIU as of June 29, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the documents submitted in November 2003, and for further action on the effective date issue.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the lack of a current diagnosis. The psychiatric disorder and sleep disorder claims are remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions and incomplete development of service treatment records, particularly from U.S. Naval Hospital in San Diego, California.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, is currently rated at 70 percent. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted due to the severity of his symptoms being already addressed by the current rating. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted for the period from January 26, 2012 to November 11, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bipolar disorder, a bilateral shoulder disability, a left elbow disability, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist. The decision also remanded several other issues.,Service connection was not granted for any of these conditions.