Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's OSA is found to be secondary to his service-connected COPD. The initial rating for bipolar disorder has been granted at 30 percent, and the residuals of right pleuritis and right basal pneumonia with COPD have also received a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's initial higher rating of 70 percent for bipolar disorder has been granted, effective as of the date service connection was established (May 29, 2008).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records and medical records relied upon in considering those benefits.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including mood disorder, bipolar disorder, and adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The Board has determined that an examination is needed to determine the likely etiology of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting psychiatric condition, presumed to have existed prior to service, was not aggravated by active duty and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bipolar affective disorder has been withdrawn by his authorized representative.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination and opinions regarding the severity of his service-connected psychiatric disability, as well as whether his alcohol abuse is secondary to or caused by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities result in a functional impairment of being able to perform only sedentary work, and they overshadow any professional skills acquired during and after service. The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU due to combined rating of 70 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia and granted it, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted. The Veteran now has a current diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder with bipolar type.

The Board found no evidence of a neck injury during service and concluded that the Veteran's current neck disability is not related to his military service. For the psychiatric claims, the VA examiner noted in-service mental health treatment but concluded there was insufficient evidence linking the current conditions to service.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a chronic psychiatric disability other than personality disorder present in service or for several years thereafter, and the current psychiatric disability is not etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA psychiatric examination to determine her current psychiatric diagnosis and its etiology. The TDIU claim is deferred pending resolution of the acquired psychiatric disorder claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Appellant's psychiatric disorders are related to her service.

The Veteran died in July 2013 due to recurrent aspiration pneumonitis, which was not service-connected.,The Veteran had a history of bipolar disorder rated at 100% disability prior to his death.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's psychiatric and right hip disability claims, including obtaining new medical opinions regarding the etiology of his diagnoses and whether his current conditions are aggravated by his service-connected left hip disability. The case will be remanded to allow for these actions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities. The examiner must provide opinions on whether each diagnosed condition is related to service or experiences therein.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD and finds no link between his current acquired psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and service. The evidence shows a chronic disability began several years after separation from active duty.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but without total occupational and social impairment. The VA assigned a 70 percent rating for the period from April 26, 2002 to November 23, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain missing service treatment records, SSA records, and VA treatment records. A mental health examination will be conducted to determine if his current psychiatric diagnoses are related to the July 1976 incident in Korea. Another examination will also be conducted to assess whether his current infectious disease and right shoulder disability are related to service.

The Veteran's daughter, R.E.H., is permanently incapable of self-support due to her severe and permanent psychiatric disabilities that have been ongoing since she was 12 years old. The evidence shows she has required extensive mental health treatment throughout her life.