Bipolar disorder decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development of evidence related to the Veteran's reported hospitalizations and purported diagnosis of bipolar disorder shortly after discharge from service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, needs to be remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and bipolar disorder due to incomplete responses in the VA opinions provided.

The appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim for HIV. The claims of service connection for neck, low back, right knee, left knee, and left shoulder disabilities have been remanded due to new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. The decision finds that the Veteran's current psychiatric condition is related to his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for gout, high blood pressure, a kidney condition, diabetes mellitus, and bipolar disorder as there was no competent evidence indicating these conditions began during active service or were related to an in-service injury or disease. The Veteran's obesity claim is also denied due to VA policy.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. A new VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder. The examiner must consider the Veteran's history of anxiety and depression during service and his statements about in-service events.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder on a direct basis and for alcohol abuse disorder as secondary to the service-connected bipolar disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to December 1, 2015. The Board found that the evidence was not in 'approximate balance' or 'nearly equal' with the evidence supporting his claim.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected bipolar affective disorder with cocaine dependence, finding that the evidence did not support total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back condition, and residuals of Chiari malformation due to incomplete development. The Veteran's subjective experience in service is considered sufficient for diagnoses of PTSD and unspecified bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, is found to be related to his service. The claim for PTSD remains pending and will need further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a rating for her lumbar spine disability, and a TDIU due to the need for additional development of evidence. The issues include obtaining an addendum opinion on the Veteran's PTSD diagnosis and assessing her lumbar spine disability with associated neurological impairments.

The Board has remanded the case due to a timely Notice of Disagreement filed by the Veteran, and will now address service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a bilateral knee condition.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for prepatellar bursitis are being remanded due to insufficient consideration of the provided medical literature. The Board will seek an addendum opinion regarding whether his service-connected bipolar disorder was aggravated by the diagnosed condition.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders was denied because the evidence did not support the occurrence of the claimed in-service stressors.,There is no credible corroborating evidence to support the Veteran's reported stressors, including those related to Hurricane Katrina, alcohol poisoning, and a helicopter fire.