Bipolar disorder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and alcohol use disorder in remission, have resulted in total occupational and social impairment. The Board has granted a 100% disability rating for these conditions effective from November 9, 2015.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence being added to the claims file, and the appellant was not given an opportunity to waive AOJ consideration of this additional evidence. The cases will be returned to the AOJ for further review.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Bipolar Disorder, is now granted as service-connected.,His bilateral hearing loss claim remains pending due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with PTSD and bipolar disorder was granted a 70% rating effective August 12, 2021. The TDIU claim prior to this date is dismissed as moot.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, PTSD, and unspecified personality disorder. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of these conditions and that his personality disorder is not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the remand is necessary due to incomplete development and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including bipolar disorder and PTSD, as well as his erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for an initial 100 percent rating for bipolar disorder is granted, effective October 6, 1970. The issue of entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) prior to October 27, 2011, is dismissed as moot.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of sufficient evidence to decide the claim, including an indication that the current disability may be associated with the Veteran's service. The Veteran should have been provided a VA mental health examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or a link between current symptoms and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder and a neurological disorder of the left upper extremity. The claim for bipolar disorder was not reopened, while the claim for the neurological disorder of the left upper extremity is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and failure to provide an adequate VA examination is a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder must be evaluated in conjunction with any non-service-connected mental health disorders.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder due to insufficient evidence of current diagnoses or recent in-service stressors.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for residuals of head contusion, now claimed as traumatic brain injury. The new evidence supports a finding that these residuals are related to his in-service head injury.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bipolar disorder is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. The Board found that he does not have total occupational and social impairment, which would warrant a 100% disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD due to inadequate VA opinions and issues with communication.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, is aggravated by her service-connected foot conditions and has been granted as service connected. The matter of entitlement to total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal of his claim for a higher rating for bipolar disorder has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability are being remanded due to the VA Regional Office failing to obtain his Social Security Administration records prior to issuing its December 8, 2020 decision.

The Board denied the appellant's request for additional attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a June 2020 rating decision, as he has already received the full amount of 20 percent of those benefits.