Bipolar disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically bipolar disorder, is etiologically related to his active duty service from July 1976 to April 1980. As a result, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding records and a need for further examination. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, and personality disorder, are being evaluated in light of his service in Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of a VA examination related to the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran claims his current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service, including physical abuse and knee problems.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals, head injury and an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete evidence. The Veteran's fatigue and joint pain are presumed to be related to his service in the Gulf War, but an addendum opinion is needed to determine if these conditions are caused by or aggravated by PTSD. Similarly, an addendum opinion is needed regarding whether bipolar disorder is aggravated by PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's PTSD diagnosis and its relationship to his military service. The erectile dysfunction claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the psychiatric disorder claim.

The Veteran's PTSD and bipolar disorder are now service connected. The TDIU claim is not ripe for adjudication as it is inextricably intertwined with the rating decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and bipolar disorder with memory loss, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current conditions and active duty service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and service connection due to her requests for withdrawal of her claims, except for a remand for further review on some issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and bipolar disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence of a diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service stressors and concluded that bipolar disorder is not etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is denied as there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred during his active duty service, and the medical opinion does not support a link between his current condition and any period of service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety state, depression, and insomnia. The evidence does not establish a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder, but denied nonservice-connected pension benefits. The TDIU issue is remanded due to the pending rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current PTSD is as likely as not attributable to his in-service stressors events occurring between August 1982 to June 2, 1986.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities was denied as his conditions do not render him helpless enough to require such assistance.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) was denied. However, the Veteran's claim for service connection for seizures secondary to PTSD treatment was granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for bipolar disorder has been denied, and the effective date for the assignment of a 70 percent rating is denied. The case is remanded for further consideration regarding TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and denied service connection for a back disability, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression or bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder has not resulted in more than occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a rating no higher than 30 percent.