Bipolar disorder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bipolar disorder is granted prior to May 26, 2018. From May 26, 2018, the rating remains at 50 percent. The claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection and has determined that he is entitled to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified trauma disorder and unspecified bipolar disorder. The decision also found that this condition was incurred in service due to a military sexual trauma (MST).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus claim was denied, while his psychiatric disability, hearing loss, lung disability, hypertension, left leg disability, CVA residuals, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability claims are being remanded.

The Board has decided that a temporary total rating for convalescence following right knee arthroscopy with chondroplasty is granted. The claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bipolar disorder is as likely as not aggravated by his Parkinson's disease, including medication used to treat it. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder and remanded the issue of secondary service connection for cannabis-use disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to determine if his current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has remanded both the character of discharge issue and the service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders issue due to insufficient opinions regarding insanity.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including other specified trauma and stressor related disorder and bipolar disorder, finding that his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, bipolar disorder and depression, and schizophrenia is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the psychiatric claims.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from May 7, 2014 to December 1, 2016 and since February 2, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder and lichen planus was granted. The claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorder. The issue of entitlement to a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder was rated at 50 percent from April 17, 2018 to October 14, 2020 and granted a 70 percent rating from October 15, 2020. The Veteran also received a TDIU on an extraschedular basis during this period.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified bipolar and related disorder, to include alcohol use disorder, was not productive of total social and occupational impairment. As such, the Veteran is denied a disability rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to conflicting diagnoses of psychiatric disorders and the need for additional medical examinations.,PTSD is being remanded as there is a conflict in diagnoses and the need for an examination to determine its relationship to service. Service connection for bipolar disorder, secondary to PTSD, is also being remanded.,Right knee disability claims are being remanded due to conflicting diagnoses of chondromalacia patella syndrome and the need for additional medical examinations.,Right quadriceps tear and left quadriceps tear claims are being remanded as there is a lack of service connection evidence and the need for an examination to determine their relationship to service-connected right knee disability.,,

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a higher evaluation for his lumbar spine disability are remanded. Additionally, the issue of TDIU is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for migraine headaches due to a lack of an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's headache disability is at least as likely as not aggravated by his lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder due to a lack of credible evidence supporting these conditions as being related to his active duty service.