Bipolar disorder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran is required to undergo examinations to determine the current severity of his right wrist, eczematoid dermatitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, PTSD, insomnia, bipolar disorder, and left wrist conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities reasonably preclude her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU, but the issues of rating excessively for chronic scoliosis and PTSD with bipolar disorder remain pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date of his service connection award for PTSD and bipolar disorder, finding that the September 2003 rating decision remained final due to lack of new and material evidence within one year of the original denial.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, sleep disorder, and headaches are being reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various mental health conditions due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran was receiving Supplemental Security Income from Social Security Administration, but VA did not attempt to obtain his SSA records.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete personnel and service treatment records, including those related to the appellant's mental health issues and disciplinary record. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and provide an opinion on whether the appellant was insane at the time of his in-service misconduct.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the October 2010 rating decision that severed service connection for schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type; and alcohol abuse and cannabis dependence in remission.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bipolar disorder is granted as the Board finds that his current diagnosis of bipolar disorder had its onset during his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically schizoaffective disorder and bipolar type. The VA is instructed to gather all pertinent medical records and schedule a VA examination for an opinion on the matter.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder and bilateral hearing loss do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, thus his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a new examination and opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the final denial of service connection for schizophrenia has been granted. The Board has also remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder was denied in February 1996 and July 2004. The Board found that the evidence raised reasonable doubt as to whether his current acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, was incurred during service. The effective date of the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder is September 11, 2009.

The Board has ordered a remand for additional development and an addendum medical opinion to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and unspecified bipolar disorder, are etiologically related to his service. The claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for determining service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, ADHD, and depression.

The Board has granted the restoration of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) with an effective date of March 31, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, alcohol use disorder, and bipolar disorder. The decision is based on the credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors and current diagnoses.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for status as a Veteran due to lack of active military service, and thus denied any claims for service connection based on that status.

The Veteran's schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, is related to service and the claim for this condition is granted. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type (to include PTSD and depression) is remanded.