Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for bipolar disorder and is now addressing it. The Veteran's wife provided additional evidence showing that his psychiatric disorders began within a year of separation from service, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's bipolar mood disorder resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% rating from March 19, 2010 to April 5, 2012, and since June 1, 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD with bipolar I disorder has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and requesting an addendum from the September 2015 examiner to determine the Veteran's psychiatric diagnoses during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a hearing on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for most of his claimed conditions and finds no evidence to support service connection for these disorders. The only condition found by the Board with a possible link to service is dementia, but this was many years after service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including depression and bipolar disorder, are not related to his service. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for bipolar disorder was denied, but he is now entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at the maximum 50% disability rating. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, is reopened and new evidence supports a finding that his current psychiatric condition more likely than not began in military service.

The Board is remanding the case to schedule the Veteran for a videoconference hearing regarding his claim of reopening service connection for anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD and bipolar disorder, was rated at 70 percent from June 26, 1998, to October 3, 2004. The Board also considered the issue of an effective date prior to June 26, 1998, for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder with alcohol abuse is rated at 100 percent disabling, resulting in total occupational and social impairment. As a result, the issue of entitlement to TDIU is moot.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to appear for a scheduled Board hearing and because he still desires a hearing on his claims before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and further medical commentary on his service-connected disabilities and diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a medical examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder, is now pending.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the cause of death (propoxyphene intoxication) is not considered to be related to VA treatment. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for propoxyphene intoxication is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The primary issue is whether there was clear and unmistakable error in an April 1963 rating decision regarding his bipolar affective disorder, and if so, what the effective date should be.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating, as it did not meet the criteria for exceptional patterns of hearing loss. For TDIU, the evidence showed he had retired due to physical reasons related to his heart condition, and his service-connected conditions did not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantial gainful employment.

The Veteran's death in August 2010 was not related to a service-connected disability or service, and the Board finds no basis to grant service connection for any of the issues raised.