Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The examiner must address whether it is at least as likely as not that any psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder, is related to active service or any incident of such service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, including whether any such disability is related to his active service. This includes obtaining deck logs from the U.S.S. John F. Kennedy for December 3, 1981, and arranging for a VA mental health examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder and assigned a 50 percent rating, effective September 24, 2010. The Veteran's bipolar disorder is manifested by symptoms such as near-continuous depressed mood, hypervigilance, neglect of personal hygiene and appearance, and inability in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and mood disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim is denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depression. The Board finds that additional development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of his current psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression and anxiety, finding new and material evidence. The Board also found that her acquired psychiatric disorder is etiologically related to her active duty military service.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder has been rated at 50 percent since September 7, 2004, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The Veteran was provided a VA examination in March 2016 which did not consider his reported nightmares related to service. Additionally, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder NOS during the appeal period but no opinion on its etiology has been provided.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder and depression are found to be related to his service-connected hypothyroidism, hydrocephalus with migraines, and ankle disability. His TDIU claim is granted as he has been unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since May 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bipolar disorder is related to her military service and grants her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, and polysubstance abuse disorder, is found to be related to his military service. His right knee disability has been rated appropriately.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding an initial disability evaluation in excess of 70 percent for the service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% evaluation.

The Veteran's current psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is service connected due to a military sexual trauma incident during his active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, bipolar disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not secondary to a service-connected back disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired mental disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar disorder with psychotic features. The new evidence received since the last denial supports reopening of this claim.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and psychotic disorder not otherwise specified. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA mental health examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is related to service. The Veteran's accounts of in-service emotional abuse and exposure to combat are also to be considered.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active military service. The claim for PTSD and low back disorder is dismissed due to withdrawal of appeal by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and a need for a VA examination.