Bipolar disorder decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and no link to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and Bipolar Disorder, finding that the Veteran's current mental health disabilities are at least as likely as not related to her military service, including a reported in-service sexual assault.

The Veteran's depression and bipolar disorder are granted as service-connected. The claim for PTSD, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than depression or PTSD (to include bipolar disorder), right hip degenerative arthritis, and hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include anxiety, depression, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. Service connection for colon cancer was denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as her service-connected bipolar disorder alone does not render her unemployable, and the combined schedular disability rating for all of her service-connected conditions has rendered a TDIU moot.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted, with a 50% rating. The Board also grants TDIU and remands the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, and congestive heart failure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and further development is required. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders may be related to his service-connected disabilities, and secondary service connection for aggravation of pre-existing conditions is raised.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals regarding PTSD and major depression/bipolar disorder, which were dismissed due to the withdrawal of appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a nonservice-connected pension is remanded due to incomplete income and medical expense reports.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder and an earlier effective date of September 5, 2014. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, is also found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, neck disability, bipolar disorder, type II diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, and neuropathies. The Board found no in-service incurrence of these disabilities or evidence linking them to active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical examination regarding the relationship between the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, and her in-service sexual assault. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric condition other than PTSD.

The Veteran's bipolar II disorder is now rated at 100% effective November 6, 2016. His low back disability is now rated at 40% effective April 15, 2014. The Veteran's GERD and Parkinsonism are both newly service-connected.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date because the RO (AOJ) has not adjudicated this issue, and the claimant must first have it addressed by the RO.

The Board denied attorney fees based on the grant of a TDIU in the March 2021 rating decision, as the fee agreement did not apply to this case due to the filing of a supplemental claim.

The Board has decided that the service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder, should be remanded due to inadequate examination and failure to address relevant lay statements regarding alcohol use during service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions did not begin in service and are not related to military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for the propriety of reducing her rating for service-connected Bipolar II Disorder and entitlement to an increased rating are being remanded due to incomplete records. The Board notes that relevant treatment records, particularly those from mental health providers, should be obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Bipolar disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current psychiatric conditions and his military service.