Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset in service. The Veteran's hepatitis C claim will be remanded for a supplemental medical opinion, while his psychiatric disorder claim requires additional VA treatment records and a supplemental medical opinion from a psychiatrist.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims and found that new evidence supports a current diagnosis of left shoulder strain. However, the Board denied service connection for all other claimed disabilities as they were not shown to be related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further development. The Veteran's service connection claim is related to her reported military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of loss of use, blindness, or severe burn injury. The Board found no inhalation injury and denied eligibility.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and a lack of contemporaneous medical records. The Veteran is required to undergo another VA psychiatric examination by an appropriate medical professional.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorder, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were related to any in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has determined that the July 2013 VA examination is inadequate for adjudication purposes and a new examination should be obtained on remand to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals to reopen his claims for bilateral knee condition and acquired psychiatric disorder as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder was reopened due to the receipt of relevant official service department records. However, the evidence does not show a nexus between his current psychiatric condition and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while his claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed mental disorders, including whether any are related to service or sexual trauma in-service. The Veteran is required to provide records from private or VA treatment providers and a VA examination will be scheduled.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and his military service. The Veteran was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2001, but there is no medical opinion linking it to his service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating of 50 percent for his service-connected bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the passage of time since his last VA examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, was granted an initial rating of 70 percent prior to June 23, 2005.,From June 23, 2005, the Veteran is granted a 100 percent rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder and anxiety, was restored to 100 percent from August 1, 2013 to May 1, 2017.

The Board has determined that an updated VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran meets the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, as his current symptoms may be related to undiagnosed PTSD from service. The Veteran's previous diagnoses of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and adjustment disorder are in conflict with a potential diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including cyclothymic disorder, bipolar disorder, ADHD, anxiety, polysubstance abuse, and schizoaffective disorder is granted. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board is unable to make a determination on the service connection claim due to uncertainty regarding where and when the Veteran was diagnosed with his psychiatric disorders. The case is being sent back for further development.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus was denied, but the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea were reopened. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted, while service connection for both tinnitus and sleep apnea remains denied.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as service connected. The remaining issues of service connection for shoulder and cervical spine disabilities, increased ratings for GERD, left knee meniscus tear and degenerative arthritis, lumbar strain, and bilateral hearing loss are dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.