Bipolar disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, specifically schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether these conditions clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service or are otherwise related to service.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's bipolar disorder had its onset during his active duty service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for migraines from May 17, 2017 to May 15, 2018 was denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders was granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an addendum opinion addressing in-service events and their relation to his currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders. The case is now pending further examination and review.

The Board has remanded the claims for bipolar disorder and neck disorder due to incomplete records. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it depends on the ratings assigned to service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeals as they are moot due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating issues, including a TDIU claim. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's unspecified bipolar and related disorder is rated at 50 percent disabling, effective July 7, 2017. The Board also granted the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is rated at 100 percent from December 1, 1971 to January 27, 1997 due to the severity of his symptoms and inability to adapt socially and industrially.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back disability, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, postural tremor of the left hand, postural tremor of the right upper extremity, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and bipolar disorder, are being granted increased ratings. The Veteran is also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, finding that new evidence received after a previous denial supports these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on PTSD, thoracolumbar spine disability, and cervical disability, as well as a TDIU rating were denied because he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without providing good cause.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim, including PTSD, is remanded as there are insufficient opinions regarding its relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include bipolar disorder. The decision also remanded the issues of service connection for drug and alcohol abuse secondary to a psychiatric disability and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU).

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder. Service connection was denied for type II diabetes mellitus and colon cancer as they were not shown to be related to active service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bipolar disorder began during his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and bilateral hearing loss. The case is remanded to obtain a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss, as well as to address his claimed psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, depressive disorder and mood disorder, has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development due to issues with verifying his in-service traumatic event and addressing all of his diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The VA is instructed to attempt to corroborate any in-service stressors, obtain additional treatment records, and provide a comprehensive examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.