Bipolar disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence received since previous decisions. The Veteran's lay statements indicate he had ongoing symptoms after service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of acquired psychiatric disorders, athlete's foot, appendectomy scar, and sialadenitis were all denied. The Veteran was granted initial compensable ratings (10%) for athlete's foot, appendectomy scar, and sialadenitis. His claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee residuals of lateral meniscectomy is being remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder, is rated at 70 percent effective November 25, 2013. The claim for a TDIU has been granted since this date.

The Board has denied all service connection claims for various conditions, including nerve damage, tinnitus, bipolar disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, right knee disability, carpal tunnel syndrome, gastritis, bilateral hearing loss, and fibromyalgia. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with Bipolar Disorder Type I has been granted an initial rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of the January 2018 decision allowing service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to gather her complete work history, obtain missing VA treatment records, and schedule a psychiatric examination. The goal is to determine if she can secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to her disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior remand directives regarding a psychiatric evaluation. The appellant's claim will be reconsidered by an Independent Medical Examiner who is a psychiatrist.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder, as well as her claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The decision found that there was clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existence of the psychiatric disabilities prior to service and that they were not aggravated by service. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied due to non-service-connected schizoaffective disorder.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder with depression and anxiety disability is rated at 70 percent since May 16, 2014. The issue of an increased rating for prostate disability (benign prostatic hypertrophy) remains on appeal.,The Veteran’s right hip arthroplasty scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his VA Form 9 was untimely filed. The decision also noted that he did not timely appeal the denial of left knee disorder claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination, and because of the need to obtain additional medical opinions regarding his psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder has been rated at 100% since August 13, 2008. This decision grants a higher disability rating for the condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension and a sleep disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and Bipolar Disorder. The claim will be reconsidered with additional development.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for bipolar disorder is denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms did not nearly approximate total occupational and social impairment, which would be required for a 100 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be afforded the presumption of soundness due to his mental health issues prior to enlistment. However, VA has not met its burden of proving by clear and unmistakable evidence that bipolar disorder pre-existed service. The Board finds a new VA medical opinion is needed to address the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired mental health disability, to include bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed as anxiety, depression, mood disorder, unspecified trauma- and stressor-related disorder, and unspecified bipolar-related disorder is granted. Service connection for substance abuse disorders (including methamphetamine and opioid use disorders and substance induced psychosis) secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disabilities is also granted.

The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder and depression, is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for a new etiological opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for injury due to re-circumcision surgery is granted, and his bipolar disorder rating is increased to 70 percent. The decision also notes that the Veteran withdrew his appeal of the bipolar disorder rating in October 2017.