Bipolar disorder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an initial rating greater than 50 percent for bipolar disorder and entitlement to a TDIU due to additional evidentiary development being necessary.

The Board denied the reopening of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that the submitted evidence did not show aggravation beyond normal progression during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, due to insufficient reasoning and evidence in the March 2019 VA examination report. The case is back before the Board for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral hearing loss have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The petition to reopen the claims for service connection for PTSD, bipolar disorder with alcohol dependence, left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine DDD, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition is granted. The Board found new and material evidence in some of these cases.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including neuropsychiatric disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder, secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches is granted. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is at least as likely as not related to his service. Service connection was denied for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran was incarcerated during service but was released in 2018. The VA needs to locate him and schedule a VA examination to determine if his current psychiatric disorders are related to his service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in the grant of TDIU.

The Board has determined that there is new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. However, due to inadequate medical opinions in a prior remand, the case must be returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing private treatment records and a need for a new VA examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder is pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities. The Veteran is entitled to a VA examination to determine if any of his claimed conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected hip disabilities and psychiatric disorder require additional examination to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is rated at 70 percent since January 18, 2019. The appeal for a higher rating remains in appellate status.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression with symptoms of suicide and anger, bipolar disorder, are related to his military service.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is rated at 70 percent, which grants an increased rating.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, based on the receipt of new and material evidence, is granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, substance abuse disorder, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder necessitated payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred at CHI from February 3rd to February 7th, as a 'medical emergency' existed and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an examination to determine if any of the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to his military service. The issues include whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of depression, and entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bipolar disorder, which was first diagnosed after service, had its onset in service and granted service connection for this condition.