Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The Veteran meets the service requirements for Vietnam service and is permanently and totally disabled from nonservice-connected disability not due to his willful misconduct. The appeal is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type is due to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran is not competent to handle his VA benefits due to mental health issues and financial mismanagement, as determined by multiple medical evaluations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bipolar disorder contributed substantially and materially to his death, which was caused by metastatic melanoma. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied, but he is granted service connection for bipolar disorder. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted and others not.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations have been denied. The claim of service connection for right pes planus has been reopened, but the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and VA examination.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining deck logs from the USS Merrill and scheduling a VA examination to address the relationship between the Veteran's in-service event and any current acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder and hypertension. The Veteran's bipolar disorder by history is not considered to be incurred in or caused by his military service, and the hypertension is not found to be related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for PTSD and Schizophreniform Disorder with Paranoia (also claimed as severe depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder).,However, the claim remains on appeal as new evidence does not establish service connection.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is rated at 70 percent since October 3, 2007, through August 30, 2013. This rating reflects significant impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion and providing notice regarding service connection for PTSD based on in-service personal assault.

The Board granted service connection for somatoform disorder and hypertension, finding that these conditions were etiologically related to the Veteran's service. The other claims of service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, sleep disorder, anxiety attacks, schizophrenia, and depression, is related to his service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and depression, is service connected as secondary to his service-connected low back disability. His bilateral foot disability is also service connected. The RO reduced the rating for his low back disability from 40% to 20%, effective July 1, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and examination to address the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric disorders, low blood pressure, and headaches.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, diagnosed as bipolar disorder, is aggravated by his service-connected headache and neck disabilities. Therefore, the claim for secondary service connection has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as bipolar disorder, is etiologically related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bipolar disorder had its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has determined that there is at least an equal amount of evidence supporting the Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder, finding it more likely than not that his current condition began during military service. As a result, the Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is granted.