Bipolar disorder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's combined disability rating was less than 100 percent prior to August 15, 2018, and the Board finds that she is not precluded from securing or following substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety and personality disorders was denied. His acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and depression, is rated at 70 percent prior to October 27, 2017, and at 100 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the cause of death (migraine headaches) is not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and recurrent manic depression. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded pending the assignment of a rating for the newly granted service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to issues related to psychiatric disability and neurocognitive disability, including allegations of in-service stressors. The Veteran is requested to undergo a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to new evidence and missed VA examinations. The claims will be reconsidered after obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling further medical evaluations.

The Veteran's mental health disability was rated at 30 percent prior to May 23, 2016, and denied a higher rating. From May 24, 2016 to May 1, 2018, the Veteran was rated at 70 percent, also denied. After that date, she was rated at 50 percent, again denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if any psychiatric disorder is related to service, including exposure at Camp LeJeune. The personality disorder claim is denied as it is not a disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder (subthreshold PTSD), is granted. However, the Veteran's bipolar disorder is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to restore his VA disability compensation benefits that were withheld due to incarceration, as his felony conviction was overturned on appeal.

Service connection for a chronic headache disorder and obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.,An initial rating of 70 percent for bipolar disorder has also been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the veteran's conditions and their service, particularly exposure to cold weather.

The Veteran was unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities from July 17, 2013, to October 7, 2014. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder, are related to his detention and interrogation in East Berlin during service. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete record. The Veteran's claims of service connection for psychiatric, lumbar spine, and left knee conditions are pending.

The Veteran's PTSD with bipolar disorder and cannabis use disorder is granted a 70 percent rating, but no higher, prior to May 11, 2019. A TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of a direct relationship between any current psychiatric condition and service or service-connected disabilities. For left knee arthritis, ratings were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher than 10 percent prior to August 31, 2021, and on the basis of limitation of flexion after that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and depression, is related to his service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders, including whether they are caused by or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The claims for service connection and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a VA opinion to determine if his OSA is caused or aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disorder and medications, as well as whether his obesity is a substantial factor in causing or aggravating his OSA.