Bipolar disorder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's increased ratings for his acquired psychiatric disorder and right knee degenerative joint disease and meniscal tear to include chondromalacia were denied. The rating for the acquired psychiatric disorder was maintained at 70 percent, while the rating for the right knee condition was increased to 20 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and a failure to obtain necessary service treatment records (STRs). The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression, is being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for migraine headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression), and bipolar disorder due to incomplete and inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's lay statements are also considered in these decisions.

Your claim for service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder has been dismissed as you did not appeal the previous denial of your claim.

The Veteran's hearing loss and ringing in the ears do not meet VA disability criteria.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claim for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including whether any pre-existing conditions were aggravated by service. The examiner must address all theories of entitlement raised by the evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for clarification regarding the Veteran's service prior to April 2003 and an additional medical opinion on his acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. A new VA examination is required to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for PTSD and Bipolar Disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's diagnoses and the relationship between his in-service stressors and current psychiatric conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining opinions on whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service or aggravated by his service-connected physical disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for her bipolar disorder and tinnitus evaluations have been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including failing to obtain VA and private treatment records for the Veteran's psychiatric conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, and ADHD, finding that there is no evidence to support a relationship between his current psychiatric disabilities and his service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depressive disorder, claimed as bipolar disorder, has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion from a clinician to address whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to military service, caused by his service-connected disabilities, or aggravated by them. The claim is still pending and will be reconsidered after the additional evidence is considered.

The Veteran's claims for a TDIU and an increased rating for bipolar disorder are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and failure to substantially comply with prior directives. The Veteran's complete Social Security Administration (SSA) records are needed, as well as efforts to corroborate her in-service stressors related to personal assault. An addendum medical opinion is also required.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD with other specified depressive disorder and bipolar I disorder is denied. The decision was final as the Veteran did not appeal or submit new evidence within the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, anxiety, and depression due to procedural errors in the initial rating decision. The Veteran is seeking service connection based on military sexual trauma (MST).

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA eligibility are granted with effective dates of July 1, 2020.