Bipolar disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has denied service connection for a heart condition and granted an effective date of January 30, 2013, for service-connected bipolar disorder. The Veteran's initial claim was implicitly denied in October 1999 due to her failure to appear for a VA examination. Her second informal claim was not developed until January 2014 when she applied again and received the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder. The Board has also remanded the issues of an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for service-connected bipolar disorder and TDIU.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied the claim itself due to lack of evidence linking any current psychiatric condition to service.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including a superimposed personality disorder. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for tinea versicolor is remanded due to the lack of a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as bipolar disorder, is granted due to its onset during active service and the preponderance of evidence supporting a nexus between service and the condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete medical records, need for new examinations, and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder. However, the issues of service connection for bilateral cataracts and heart condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bipolar II disorder requires a higher disability rating and also needs to determine if she is unemployable due to her service-connected condition. The decision is remanded for further examination and development of evidence.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. Service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary to determine whether the Veteran meets the DSM-V criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, personality disorder, and adjustment disorder. The Veteran's service connection claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding her diagnoses.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder, bilateral hip disability, bilateral shoulder avascular necrosis, tinnitus, sleep disorder, and headache disability.,Service connection was not granted for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is granted. The separate claim for depression is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection, a rating increase, and TDIU. The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to a separate disability rating of 10 percent for left knee instability but has remanded other issues including right knee condition, acquired psychiatric disability (Bipolar Disorder), and TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder, finding no current diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's symptoms to his military service.

The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and an unspecified depressive disorder is granted. Service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for depression, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease with lower back pain and knee condition. The decision also grants a rating of 100% (maximum) disability for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is granted, but the Board finds that further development is necessary before the merits of the underlying claim can be addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding whether his conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee and bipolar disorder have been reopened, with new evidence showing a possible link to service. Service connection has been granted for bipolar disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete records. The Veteran will need to provide additional chiropractic treatment records, undergo a psychiatric examination, and have his left shoulder disability evaluated.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected conditions and their relationship to his other disabilities.