Bipolar disorder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's PTSD and bipolar disorder with OCD were rated at 70 percent prior to August 8, 2016. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. From August 8, 2016, the Veteran was diagnosed with bipolar disorder with severe anxious distress, PTSD with panic attacks, and OCD with focused repetitive behavior. The Board remanded these issues due to conflicting diagnoses.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder and remanded the issue of a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to December 23, 2020; and in excess of 10 percent, thereafter.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for an examination to assess his functional limitations due to his service-connected disabilities.

Service connection for migraine headache disorder, low back disorder, right hand disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right foot disorder is granted.,Service connection for psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and an antisocial personality disorder) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and his private treatment records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Perry Point VAMC and Balboa Naval Hospital. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to military sexual trauma (MST) is pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, alcohol dependency, adjustment disorder with mixed disturbances of emotions and conduct, and PTSD, is granted as service connected. The heart disease claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and missing records. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, are being reviewed again with a new examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and atypical psychosis, was granted. The issue of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disability as a result of VA treatment is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's disabilities did not have their onset in service or within one year of his discharge from active service.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for bipolar disorder remains at 30 percent, but the case is being remanded due to additional development needed. The TDIU issue is also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that his current psychiatric disorders did not have their onset in service and are not otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including his service connection claim. The VA and private treatment records are requested to provide a complete picture of the Veteran's medical history.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the nature and origin of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal for the rating in excess of 70 percent for bipolar disorder and the TDIU claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient evidence to support a link between his in-service stressor and any diagnosed condition.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and Bipolar II Disorder are denied as there is no confirmed diagnosis of PTSD, and the Bipolar II Disorder was not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right knee disability were allowed in May 2020, resulting in the establishment of service connection. As such, there remains no case or controversy over which the Board may presently exercise jurisdiction.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with the previous remand directives and has ordered another VA examination to address whether any current psychiatric disability (other than PTSD) is superimposed on top of the Veteran's diagnosed personality disorder while in service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and claustrophobia, is remanded.