Bipolar disorder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's bipolar disorder with dementia was granted a 70 percent rating from July 23, 2003 until March 13, 2008. The effective date of the grant is July 23, 2003.

The Veteran is granted a 100% disability rating for bipolar disorder with psychotic features effective August 11, 2021. The Board found that the symptoms met criteria for total occupational and social impairment starting from this date.

The Veteran's service connection claim for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is granted. Claims for PTSD, bipolar disorder, and nervousness are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung or respiratory condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and his right knee disability. The issues of increased rating and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to inconsistencies in his employment history and income reported. The AOJ needs to obtain Social Security earnings statements since 2017 and provide the Veteran with another opportunity to submit a VA Form 21-8940 outlining his employment history.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, and mood disorder, is related to his service. Service connection for these conditions has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he is currently enrolled in college and has attempted to re-enter the workforce. The Board finds that his unemployability is due to his mental health conditions rather than his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Bipolar Disorder, finding that there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking and/or mood. The Board found the disability picture to be more closely approximating a 70 percent rating for bipolar disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The claim for an acquired mental disorder, including bipolar disorder, is remanded as there was no readjudication after a November 2020 rating decision. The claim for lumbar spine disability (claimed as pain) is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and the retrieval of clinical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar and adjustment disorder with depressed mood was granted, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's PTSD, to include schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder, is rated at 100 percent prior to December 21, 2012. From December 21, 2012, the rating is 70 percent. The Veteran also received a grant of TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for VR&E services, including independent living assistance, was not properly considered due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The case is being remanded to provide the necessary assessments and determine eligibility for such services.

The Board has determined that the effective dates for the grant of service connection and TDIU should be remanded due to procedural errors, and a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for bipolar disorder with cocaine use disorder is also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar I disorder, and alcohol use disorder, due to military sexual trauma (MST), finding that the Veteran's symptoms are at least as likely as not related to her MST. The decision is based on evidence of behavior changes consistent with MST stressors and corroborated by medical records.

The Veteran's initial claim for PTSD with unspecified bipolar disorder, alcohol use disorder, cocaine use disorder, and cannabis use disorder was granted effective from September 8, 2011. An initial rating of 70 percent is granted prior to April 27, 2022.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim for service connection for bipolar disorder, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a psychiatric disorder was denied, and the claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Board granted an effective date of April 29, 2019, for the award of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hemorrhoids, and bipolar disorder.