Bipolar disorder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claim is granted.,Service connection for a TBI, brain disease (claimed as white matter disease), and chronic fatigue are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of in-service stressors and discrepancies with respect to psychiatric diagnoses. The Veteran needs to provide more details about his claimed stressors, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the current nature and likely etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran and finds that his current condition is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type and substance abuse disorder. The appeal concerning presumptive service connection of a mental illness for treatment purposes only under 38 U.S.C. § 1702 is dismissed as the Veteran's established awards of service connection provide equal or greater access to VA treatment.

The Veteran's heart disability, gout, and acquired psychiatric disorder were denied as not related to service or service-connected conditions.,Service connection was not established for any of the claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development of records and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include PTSD, unspecified anxiety disorder, ADHD, bipolar personality disorder, and moderate depression secondary to service-connected left foot and left ankle disabilities, as well as bilateral knee disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for calcaneal spur, left foot and ankle; disabilities of the feet to include plantar fasciitis and bilateral pes planus; diabetes mellitus, Type II; TBI; and psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The issues are related to service connection.

The Board denied the claim to reopen service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, major depression, OCD, and PTSD. The new evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder was granted service connection and a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee bursitis is remanded. Service connection for hypertension remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, were found to warrant a 70 percent initial evaluation from May 24, 2011, to June 3, 2016. The TDIU appeal was granted for the same period.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder as there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. Service connection was not granted due to lack of credible evidence supporting the claimed in-service stressors or events, injuries, or diseases. Increased ratings were denied as there is no objective medical evidence of current disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, and the TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder with major depression was granted an initial disability evaluation of 70 percent, effective from October 8, 2015 to December 12, 2019. From December 13, 2019 forward, the claim for a higher rating remains pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for a new VA medical examination and etiology opinion regarding any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder. The Veteran's service connection claim is being reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records, including missing service treatment records and private medical records. The Veteran is asked to provide information for obtaining additional records, and an addendum opinion from a VA psychologist regarding the etiology of his psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder, was aggravated by his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA). Service connection is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss disability due to lack of evidence supporting a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied. Her right foot injury residuals with arthritic changes and right saphenous neuritis were also denied as her current rating is already at the maximum allowed under VA guidelines.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's migraine headaches are caused or aggravated by her service-connected anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder.