Bipolar disorder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) was granted effective October 15, 1999. The decision also grants a TDIU effective from the same date.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in considering evidence of military sexual trauma and a need for new VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bipolar disorder and PTSD due to potential pre-service onset of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and potential stressor development. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded for further development of her treatment records from Aurora Psychiatric Hospital, formerly Milwaukee Psychiatric Hospital.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining a VA opinion on the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various psychiatric disabilities, including major depressive disorder with psychotic features, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. The VA is instructed to provide a comprehensive examination and determine the etiology of each condition.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified bipolar disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral knee conditions. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine prior to August 13, 2019 remains denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder, are found to be related to his military service. The Board grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's attorney withdrew all claims of service connection for various conditions, including polysubstance dependence, bipolar disorder, PTSD, bilateral foot peripheral neuropathy, sleep apnea, and renal failure. The Board dismissed these claims as the Veteran had withdrawn them.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bipolar disorder and whether it is proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with residuals of TBI.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete verification of his claimed periods of active duty and additional verified service records are needed. The AOJ must readjudicate the claims with consideration of all available evidence.

The Veteran's anemia was granted a 10% evaluation effective December 9, 2018. The issue of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for anemia prior to that date is denied. Other issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in the February 2021 decision regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, insomnia, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety. The matter is now with the VA clinician to provide a medical opinion addressing causality.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left and right wrist disorders, as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. Additional examinations are needed to address these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disabilities rendered him unemployable from April 17, 2006, through December 25, 2012.

The Veteran's diagnosed bipolar disorder is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that it had its onset during his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including mood disorder, anxiety disorder not otherwise specified (NOS), and bipolar disorder type I, is service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder was denied.,VA found the severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms more closely approximated a 50 percent rating. The Board also determined that there were no deficiencies in most areas due to his mental health issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to April 10, 2018, for the award of special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance. The decision found that no formal or informal claim was filed within one year before the receipt of his claim on April 20, 2018.