Bipolar disorder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's attorney is contesting the VA's decision on eligibility for attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a January 2019 rating decision. The case needs to be remanded to ensure full compliance with contested claims procedures.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder II, is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities (obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and lumbar strain/myositis).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder. The issues are intertwined as they both involve his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his active duty or any incidents therein, including reports of being beaten and sexually abused by his sergeant.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination, including service connection claims for various psychiatric disorders, hypertension, substance abuse, Meniere’s disease, hearing loss, impotence, and special monthly compensation.

The Board has granted an initial 100 percent evaluation for PTSD with bipolar disorder, finding that the Veteran's disability picture more nearly approximates total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and depression, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain. The issues of increased rating for lumbar strain and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically bipolar disorder with psychotic features, has resulted in total occupational and social impairment throughout the appeal period. As a result, the Board granted a 100 percent rating for this condition.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder prior to September 2019 is rated at 30 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to March 19, 2014, for the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder including depression and anxiety symptoms with cannabis use disorder are dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for bipolar disorder including depression and anxiety symptoms with cannabis use disorder is also dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for fatigue and memory loss due to exposure at Camp Lejeune, as well as compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left eye blind spot due to VA medical treatment on June 26, 2014 are all dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions from the VA examiner and for additional development of records, including prison records and VISTA Imaging.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder and remanded the remaining issues of service connection for other conditions. The Veteran's current bilateral shoulder disorders, lumbar spine disorder, sleep disorder, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction are presumed to have originated in service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen her claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and a low back disability. The issues of entitlement to service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,New evidence, including VA medical center records and private psychiatric opinions, was submitted since the last final denial in August 2009.

The Board dismissed all appeals seeking service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, allergic rhinitis, anemia with vitamin D deficiency, and other medical issues. The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's PTSD with bipolar disorder and panic disorder was granted a rating of 70 percent for the period between December 12, 2016 and September 30, 2019. The TDIU claim from January 13, 2017 until September 30, 2019 was also granted.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD and bipolar I disorder was reopened due to new evidence, and the effective date of service connection is set at January 6, 2008. The Board found that the Veteran did not timely receive the October 2009 SOC due to circumstances outside his control (homelessness and psychiatric hospitalizations).

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and depression, are related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (previously diagnosed as Bipolar Disorder) was granted, with a 30 percent rating effective from November 16, 2014. A TDIU due to service-connected disabilities was also granted effective from February 21, 2017.