Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to missing records and incomplete information, including service treatment records, VCAA notice response, VA examination report, and private medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is now pending with the Baltimore RO.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and SMC on account of being housebound are dismissed as the Board's decision denying these claims is final.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death. The issues on appeal were whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen a claim of residuals of head trauma, and the entitlement to service connection for various disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule a VA examination for his right ankle disability. The issues of increased ratings for bipolar disorder, knee osteoarthritis, and initial rating for the right ankle sprain are also pending.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional evidence and determine whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for a mental disorder, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizoaffective disorder bipolar type, and mood disorder.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to military service and denies his claim.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since May 20, 2015, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Board has ordered additional development to obtain personnel records from his military service and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding his claimed in-service head injuries. The VA will seek verification of these incidents from official sources.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, psychosis, major depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, schizoaffective disorder, borderline personality disorder, dysthymic disorder, and polysubstance dependence. The Veteran also received a grant of service connection for secondary stomach disorder. However, the claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and denied both issues on appeal.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar and schizoaffective disorders, are found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bipolar disorder had its onset in service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial evaluation for bipolar disorder has been withdrawn.

The Board has expanded the Veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection for PTSD to a claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and depressive disorder not otherwise specified. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder substantially contributed to his death, and thus service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected bipolar disorder, which prevents him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU during the entire appellate period.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 14, 1982 for the award of a 100 percent initial disability rating for schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. The Veteran was found to be demonstrably unable to obtain or retain employment due to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, personality disorder, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.