Bipolar disorder decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's psychiatric disorder and his service. The Veteran needs to provide updated medical records and undergo a VA examination to determine if his current psychiatric condition is related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and Meniere’s Syndrome (dizziness), but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric condition. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and medical records showing current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for diabetes mellitus due to incomplete records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's active duty service from September 2003 to November 2003 is not considered valid due to fraudulent enlistment. The Board also notes that the Veteran had service in the Marine Corps Reserves but there are inconsistencies regarding his periods of INACDUTRA/IADT. The appeal for service connection on these conditions is remanded for further clarification and verification of service records.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with bipolar disorder and sarcoidosis have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting the grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's initial rating for bipolar disorder with MRE depressed prior to March 4, 2009 was denied. A 70 percent rating is granted from that date forward. The case is remanded for further action on the right knee degenerative joint disease and total disability rating claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to VA's failure to obtain private treatment records from University of Wisconsin Hospital psychiatry ward, which is believed to contain relevant information about the Veteran's psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, OCD, anxiety and depression, is granted. The claims for right knee, left knee, chronic fatigue (undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability), and headaches are remanded.

The Veteran's schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type II, was granted service connection as it is considered a direct result of his in-service combat exposure.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including general anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder, is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The Board will now review whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for a nervous disorder, now characterized as an acquired psychiatric disorder, is granted. The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of any current psychiatric disorders to military service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to a homicide, finding that bipolar disorder did not contribute to his death. The preponderance of evidence does not support a link between the Veteran’s service-connected conditions and his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder was denied due to lack of evidence supporting the claims. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bunionectomy of the left great toe was also denied as there is no evidence showing that the condition has worsened beyond what is already covered by the current rating.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depression and bipolar disorder, is granted. The case is remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of his psychiatric disabilities and ED. Additionally, the left knee disability must be re-evaluated.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder, both related to the Veteran's military service. Service connection was denied for a sinus cavity injury and TBI.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder was reopened and granted effective from November 20, 2009. The claim for PTSD was denied in August 2008 but reopened on August 2, 2010 with an effective date of November 20, 2009. A rating of 70 percent is granted for PTSD prior to March 2, 2017 and a rating in excess of 70 percent is denied at all times relevant to the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder, an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as there was no competent or credible evidence establishing a nexus between a claimed in-service disease or injury and the diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature, etiology, and date of onset of any psychiatric disorder that was diagnosed during the appeal period, including bipolar disorder and depression (excluding PTSD).