Bipolar disorder decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, PTSD, bipolar disorder and anxiety. The VA is required to obtain additional medical records and conduct a new examination to determine if the Veteran's current mental health conditions are related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar I disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted with effective dates of July 11, 2013.,However, the Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for these grants. The Board finds that the proper effective date cannot be earlier than July 11, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder. The decision is based on the Veteran's competent and credible lay statements regarding his symptoms in and since separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA opinion on whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities are due to or aggravated by his service-connected conditions. The issue of earlier effective date for tinnitus is no longer before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 70 percent, but not higher, for his psychiatric disability (bipolar disorder and depression) is granted from March 21, 1975, to December 26, 1996. The claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent after December 26, 1996, is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD was denied as there is no legal basis for assignment of any earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and will need to verify the Veteran's Army Reserve duty periods and obtain any associated medical records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder as secondary to her service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically bipolar disorder. The decision is based on evidence showing a current disability and in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury, with a nexus between the two.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for bipolar disorder, which is claimed as a neurobehavioral effect related to Camp Lejeune exposure. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development and consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia with possible psychosis, began in service or is otherwise related to service. The scope of the claim was improperly narrowed by the AOJ.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal through his authorized representative.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including bipolar disorder and anxiety, is granted as service connected. The sleep condition is denied.

The decision grants service connection for bipolar disorder, finding that the Veteran's condition manifested during active service and is related to his military service.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder with alcohol and cannabis use disorders, rated at 70% from May 20, 2011, to April 12, 2022, has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted the TDIU rating based on the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his limited education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder was rated at 70 percent prior to February 7, 2015. Beginning February 7, 2015, a 100 percent rating for bipolar disorder is granted.,Service connection for a sleep disorder (including sleep apnea) has not been established.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and bipolar disorder have resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD and bipolar I disorder were rated at 50 percent prior to September 3, 2015. The rating was increased to 70 percent from November 1, 2015, to August 20, 2018.,The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. Additional development is needed to obtain relevant records and provide an adequate opinion on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her in need of regular aid and attendance, resulting in the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on this need. The issue of SMC based on housebound status is moot due to the grant of SMC for aid and attendance.