Bipolar disorder decisions — 2020

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

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is secondary to his service-connected bipolar disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, schizophrenia, and/or bipolar disorder, are not service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise and thus favoring the Veteran's claim.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes mellitus, and bipolar disorder as the evidence did not show current disabilities or continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for seborrheic dermatitis and psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. The case is remanded to obtain additional evidence regarding radiation exposure during service and to schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and earlier effective dates was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of total occupational and social impairment, which would warrant a higher disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for an effective date earlier than October 8, 2013 for the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder and for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and in excess of 30 percent for bipolar disorder. The Veteran is also requested to provide any SSA disability benefits information.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there was no evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection for Crohn’s disease and bipolar disorder was denied. A 100% disability rating for PTSD with severe inhalant use disorder and moderate cannabis use disorder (also claimed as anxiety/depression) is granted effective August 10, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and affective disorder have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of a TDIU rating effective October 19, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connection claim for bipolar disorder was reopened, and the Board found that her acquired psychiatric disability began during active service. The decision grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and secondary alcohol use disorder. The cause of the Veteran's death is also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for bipolar disorder and for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, discrete from bipolar disorder. The decision is based on the need for additional medical examination to assess the current severity of service-connected bipolar disorder and whether the Veteran meets the diagnostic criteria for another distinct psychological disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD, alcohol use disorder, and bipolar disorder have been granted a 70% rating for the entire period on appeal prior to March 24, 2017 (exclusive of periods of temporary total rating).

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, specifically PTSD. The Veteran is required to provide additional information and authorize VA to obtain any relevant private treatment records. A new VA mental disorders examination will be conducted to determine the etiology of all acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are not related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including an updated psychiatric examination and consideration of the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service injury. Service connection was not established for the psychiatric disorders as secondary to the lumbar spine disability.