Bipolar disorder decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's request for reentrance into a VR&E program and eligibility for retroactive payment of education expenses, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not worsen to the extent that he was precluded from performing work duties or that his previously rehabilitated occupation was unsuitable.

The Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as bipolar disorder, is granted. His increased ratings for lumbar back disability and associated radiculopathy are also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and issues related to the Veteran's address. The Veteran is required to appear for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and personality disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and evaluation due to insufficient medical evidence on file, particularly regarding the Veteran's PTSD with Bipolar I Disorder. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it may be affected by the outcome of the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and traumatic plantar fasciitis are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and bipolar disorder with depressed mood and alcohol use disorder, as well as her claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is required to provide additional information about her employment history and submit records from Dr. P.B. at Grey Matters.

The Veteran's application to reopen his service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder, was granted. The claims for hypertension, bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy are remanded.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the issue of entitlement to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to conflicting opinions from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's in-service symptoms and their relation to his current conditions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The Board finds new and material evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, thus reopening it. However, the issue of entitlement to service connection remains remanded due to outstanding records from VA treatment facilities and private providers.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and personnel records, specifically using two different Social Security Numbers. The claim will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The case is remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding periods of active duty, verification of in-service personal assault for PTSD claims, and corroboration of such incidents.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including acquired psychiatric conditions and musculoskeletal issues. The appeals are pending due to incomplete development of evidence related to stressor verification and examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of issues related to service connection, including a determination on whether the Appellant's discharge is bar to VA benefits.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 100 percent for bipolar disorder from February 12, 2017, is denied.,The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and PTSD with substance abuse disorder secondary to bipolar disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, specifically bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and the Board has dismissed all issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the nature of any psychiatric disabilities, their relationship to service, and the current severity of malaria residuals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, is related to service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to attend a VA examination scheduled for March 29, 2023. The Veteran was unable to attend and requested rescheduling multiple times.