Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen her previously denied claims for service connection for schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder, but remanded for further development due to outstanding treatment records and insufficient medical evidence.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is rated at 70 percent effective February 9, 2009. The Board also granted a TDIU rating effective June 6, 2013.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims in October 2019.

The Board denied service connection and compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for sleep apnea, insomnia, amputation of right leg, surgical scarring, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder (claimed as panic attacks and stress), diabetes, hypertension, circulatory disorder/left big toe, and erectile dysfunction.,The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions throughout the pendency of his appeal.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is currently rated at a 50% disability rating, and the Board has granted an additional 20% (to a total of 70%) for the entire appeal period based on his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to lack of substantial compliance with previous development requests.

The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.,The Veteran's claim for a tremor disorder has also been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and mood disorder (schizoaffective disorder), is related to his military service. The evidence shows he received treatment for mental health issues during service and continues to have symptoms since then.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination and additional VA treatment records, as well as the need to evaluate the severity of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has previously remanded this claim multiple times and is now remanding again due to conflicting medical evidence regarding the Veteran's diagnoses and their relation to service. The appeal must be remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of recent VA treatment records and uncompleted VA examinations. The Veteran is requested to provide updated contact information so that he can be scheduled for additional medical evaluations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, and mental disorder was denied.,An effective date earlier than May 8, 2018, for a 100% rating for bipolar disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors. The AOJ must verify these stressors and schedule a VA examination to determine if they caused PTSD, as well as assess whether the Veteran's bipolar disorder and depression had their onset during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has determined that new evidence supports reopening of his claims. The case is remanded to allow for a VA examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder, right knee arthroplasty, and right lateral popliteal cutaneous neuropathy have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since September 11, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for macular degeneration, Parkinson’s Disease, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder are remanded due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during his military service.,The Veteran's claim for SMC based on need of aid and attendance is also remanded.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, tobacco use disorder, and alcohol use disorder, which are associated with his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, substance abuse, and insomnia), residuals of a burn to the face, and bilateral impaired vision are all granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar and cyclothymic disorders, is rated at 70 percent. The rating will remain in effect as the evidence does not show total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, depression disorder, and schizophrenia. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea (secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder), gastrointestinal disability (secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder), and erectile dysfunction (secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder) are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.