Bipolar disorder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Bipolar Disorder as secondary to service-connected PTSD have been granted.

Your service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is dismissed because the benefits are already in effect due to a prior rating decision.

The Veteran is granted SMC at the housebound rate and TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to December 27, 2017 due to service-connected disabilities including schizoaffective disorder, lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, and left knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence showing the condition pre-existed service. The Board also found insufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between the current disability and active service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD due to MST, and for GERD, ED, and OSA as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other psychiatric pathology. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, and there was no direct link between the Veteran's military service and his current psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and initial ratings have been withdrawn.,Service connection was granted for diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, left and right sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy, left and right femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy, and left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The effective dates of these awards are January 16, 2014.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been reopened and are now granted. The Board found that the new evidence submitted since previous denials supports a finding that these conditions may be related to service or pre-existing psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD due to the lack of verified stressors. The appeal for service connection for psychotic disorder is remanded as there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding the examination provided.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 70 percent for bipolar disorder with alcohol abuse, a rating in excess of 20 percent for a cervical spine disability, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The claims are being remanded for additional examinations and consideration.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, a psychiatric disability other than PTSD to include a bipolar disability, and a low sperm count. The appeal for vision impairment was also dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, left shoulder disorder, and right shoulder disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,No new or material evidence was submitted that could establish a link between the current diagnoses and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, and the need for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and one due to military sexual trauma. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims of in-service stressors or direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bipolar I disorder and entitlement to a TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from the May 2020 VA examiner.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder caused total occupational and social impairment as of March 27, 2018. The Board granted a 100% rating for the condition starting from that date.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder with panic disorder have resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating for the entire appeals period.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for bipolar disorder, service connection for fibromyalgia and migraine condition are remanded. The claim for TDIU is also remanded due to the inextricability of these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder and inguinal hernia residual scar alone do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for chronic pain syndrome is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection for bipolar disorder, hypertension, and tinnitus are remanded due to incomplete records. The Veteran’s OSA is also remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its relationship with his service-connected left knee disability and any non-service-connected psychiatric disability.,The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral wrist disabilities (left and right) is remanded as the VA examinations did not fully comply with the requirements of Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016).