Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an adequate VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran is unable to secure or maintain a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, including bipolar disorder and low back disability.

The Veteran's bipolar II disorder with PTSD is rated at 50 percent since July 24, 2013. The Board has granted a 100 percent rating effective from that date due to gross impairment in thought processes or communication and intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bipolar disorder was dismissed. The claim for reopening of cervical spine disability was granted, but only to the extent that it is secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder, finding that the Veteran's psychiatric disability had its onset in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral leg disability (to include arthritis) is remanded as the nature and etiology of this condition must be determined.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and bipolar) is remanded as new evidence has been submitted that may support his claim on the merits.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is remanded as the nature and etiology of this condition must be determined.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depressive disorder due to new evidence received since the last final denial. The claims are now remanded for further development including obtaining medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral shin splints and bilateral knee disability have also been reopened and granted.

The Veteran's initial claim for increased ratings for his psychiatric disorder was denied, with a final rating of 70 percent since March 30, 2015.,TDIU for the period prior to March 30, 2015 was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, finding that the Veteran's claimed conditions did not manifest during active service and were not causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been granted for tinnitus, and the issues of service connection for arthritis, asthma, high cholesterol, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), diverticulitis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have also been granted. The claims for hearing loss and bilateral hands/low back arthritis are still pending.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against his claim for a compensable disability rating.,Prior to June 18, 2013; from February 1, 2014 through May 31, 2015; and from July 1, 2015, onward, the preponderance of evidence is against his claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for bipolar disorder with alcohol and drug abuse.,From June 1, 2015 through June 24, 2015, a temporary total rating due to hospitalization for bipolar disorder with alcohol and drug abuse is warranted.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of mood disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board found that discontinuance of VR&E services based on a negative feasibility determination was proper due to the Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder with psychotic features significantly contributing to her inability to complete her education and maintain employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence received since previous decisions. The Veteran's lay statements indicate he had ongoing symptoms after service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of acquired psychiatric disorders, athlete's foot, appendectomy scar, and sialadenitis were all denied. The Veteran was granted initial compensable ratings (10%) for athlete's foot, appendectomy scar, and sialadenitis. His claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee residuals of lateral meniscectomy is being remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder, is rated at 70 percent effective November 25, 2013. The claim for a TDIU has been granted since this date.

The Board has denied all service connection claims for various conditions, including nerve damage, tinnitus, bipolar disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, right knee disability, carpal tunnel syndrome, gastritis, bilateral hearing loss, and fibromyalgia. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with Bipolar Disorder Type I has been granted an initial rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of the January 2018 decision allowing service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to gather her complete work history, obtain missing VA treatment records, and schedule a psychiatric examination. The goal is to determine if she can secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to her disabilities.