Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, sinusitis, sleep apnea, hypertension, chest pain, a dental disorder for treatment purposes, and ear disability. The issues are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and manic depression.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are remanded to obtain VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD resulting from military sexual trauma, is remanded due to insufficient credible supporting evidence and conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to incomplete development of records and inadequate statement of reasons and bases for denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, are connected to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied in February 2006 and July 2010. The Board found no evidence of an informal or formal claim filed after the July 2010 denial and prior to April 26, 2012. Therefore, the effective date for the grant of service connection is April 26, 2012.

The Board dismissed the claims of service connection for bipolar disorder and a back disorder due to the appellant's withdrawal of his claim for bipolar disorder. The appeal regarding the back disorder was denied as there is no evidence linking the current condition to active duty.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder, finding no current diagnosis and insufficient evidence linking the condition to service.,Service connection was also denied for bipolar disorder due to lack of competent medical evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder and PTSD are considered to be related, so her claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's seizure disorder is granted service connection and he is assigned a 70% disability rating for his generalized anxiety disorder with bipolar disorder. The initial rating prior to September 26, 2017, was granted, while the increased rating as of that date remains denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for dermatitis, sleep apnea, abnormal thyroid condition due to Lithium use, PTSD with bipolar disorder, thoracic spine disability, LLE and RLE radiculopathy is denied. The appeal was reopened on new evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for TBI. The psychiatric disorder claim is remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his initial rating for bipolar disorder with opioid dependence is remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's headaches are granted a 10 percent rating prior to August 8, 2013 and denied any higher. For the period beginning August 8, 2013, he is granted a 30 percent rating for his headaches. The Veteran's bipolar disorder is granted a 70 percent rating prior to May 4, 2013 and a 100 percent rating from that date forward.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability (to include various mood disorders) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral lower extremity disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination and development of stressor claims. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are currently under consideration.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, TDIU, and did not reopen the claim for tinnitus. The Veteran's bipolar disorder is currently service connected but his PTSD does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's vocational goal as a drug and alcohol counselor is not reasonably feasible due to his service-connected disabilities, including bipolar disorder, alcohol-induced suicidal ideation, dementia, seizure disorder, and orthopedic disabilities.