Bipolar disorder decisions — 2024

Your service connection for PTSD with unspecified bipolar disorder and associated insomnia has been granted in full, making the appeal moot.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for bipolar disorder, but denied claims for anxiety and depression related to his bipolar disorder. The new evidence presented at the hearing supports the readjudication of the bipolar disorder claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board has determined that there is a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, as evidenced by the testimony provided during the September 2023 hearing and the opinion from S.C., a licensed professional counselor. As such, the Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is granted.

Service connection is granted for acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Alcohol disorder, Major Depression Disorder (MDD), and Bipolar II.,Service connection is also granted for gastritis, GERD, lumbosacral strain, visual impairment, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for other specified bipolar disorder, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active service.

The Board dismissed the appeal for eligibility to direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the September 2020 rating decision because the appellant did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) within 60 days from the October 2020 fee decision.

The Board has determined that there were duty to assist errors regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder, depression, memory loss, and PTSD. The claim is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were not aggravated by service and are presumed to have been incurred in service. The Veteran's current conditions are therefore granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, and PTSD, is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral ankle sprain, sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, hypertension, gastrointestinal problems, and migraines.

The Board dismissed the appeal of a proposed reduction in the Veteran's bipolar disorder rating from 50 percent to 30 percent because it was not an actual decision on the merits, but rather a notification of proposed action.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, which may be secondary to his service-connected bipolar disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a vascular disorder, including as due to toxic exposures during military service, need further development. The case is being remanded for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service and post-service treatment records, particularly those from Chicago VA. The Veteran's bipolar disorder claim will be reconsidered with these additional records.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for bipolar disorder with substance abuse disorder was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's symptoms did not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment during the period on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU for purposes of accrued benefits was granted. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disability rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for his service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder with bipolar I disorder was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder and PTSD have been dismissed as the RO granted service connection for adjustment disorder, which already includes symptoms of both conditions.

The Veteran's rating for unspecified depressive disorder was reduced from 70% to 50%, but the December 2020 decision restored it back to 70%. The issue of service connection for bipolar disorder as secondary to unspecified depressive disorder is referred to the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is denied because the Board finds that his bipolar disorder pre-existed service and did not increase in severity during service.,The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for substance abuse disorders (to include alcohol and opioid abuse disorders) is also denied as VA compensation will not be paid if the claimed disability or death was the result of the person's own willful misconduct or abuse of alcohol or drugs.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, bipolar disorder, and hypertension have been granted. The claim for hypertension is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.