Bipolar disorder decisions — 2023

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder and PTSD as due to military sexual trauma (MST), based on new evidence submitted since the March 2000 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting diagnoses and the need for a VA opinion on direct service connection, as well as verification of claimed stressors involving in-service fighter jet crashes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, previously listed as anxiety, is reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The case is remanded for further evaluation and a nexus opinion from an appropriate clinician.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD and diagnosed as bipolar II disorder) is currently rated at 50 percent. The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, which could impact his TDIU claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, specifically bipolar II disorder with anxious distress. The VA examiner is required to provide a new opinion on whether these conditions are related to service and if they were aggravated by service.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death, as they have no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bipolar disorder and TDIU due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination.

The Veteran was granted a 70 percent disability rating for bipolar and generalized anxiety disorders from April 20, 2018, to October 2, 2019.,A TDIU was denied prior to April 20, 2018.

The Board has granted the appellant's recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse for purposes of VA death benefits and remanded the issues related to service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric conditions, which are presumed to be related to service.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if the Veteran had a service-connected disability at the time of discharge, which would have justified her discharge.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to a failure to properly notify the Veteran of his scheduled VA examination and incomplete private treatment records. The Board finds that good cause has been shown for the Veteran's absence from the scheduled examination.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was reopened due to new and relevant evidence. However, the Board found that the service-connected disabilities did not prevent the Veteran from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder and bipolar II disorder is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions, as the last examination was over three years ago.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder, was reopened due to new evidence. The Board found that the current disability (bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder) had its onset in service and granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, including PTSD and related conditions like anxiety, depression, substance use disorder, and Bipolar I Disorder, is related to his service stressors. The appeal for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for schizoaffective/bipolar disorder, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated during his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an examination. The appeal is granted in part as new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, and the combined effects of these conditions have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.,The Veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities that cause chronic pain and other symptoms, which aggravate his diagnosed psychiatric condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with bipolar disorder, finding that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and active duty service.