Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including acquired psychiatric disorders, thyroidectomy residuals, kidney stones, neck disorder, muscle disorder, digestive disorder, left ankle disorder, and left foot disorder. The appeals are based on direct service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for clarification on whether claims for service connection for migraine headaches and hypertensive vascular disease are being raised, as well as scheduling a Board videoconference hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear at his scheduled videoconference hearing. The case will be returned for further development if needed.

The Board found no evidence of a psychosis during service or within one year following discharge, and there is no probative medical opinion linking the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for depression and bipolar disorder was denied.

The Veteran's increased rating for bipolar disorder from 30% to 50% effective March 10, 2009 was granted. The claim remains in controversy as the Veteran seeks a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining psychiatric treatment records and an examination to address the relationship between any current psychiatric disability and service. The Veteran's claim for bipolar disorder is still pending.

The Veteran's cause of death was not due to his service-connected disabilities, and the medications he was prescribed did not contribute to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bipolar disorder warranted a 70 percent evaluation effective September 23, 2014, based on evidence showing significant impairment and symptoms consistent with the criteria for such a rating.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the Veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses and their relationship to his military service. The case will be remanded for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran currently meets the criteria for a diagnosis of unspecified trauma-related disorder related to his in-service personal assault. The claim will be adjudicated again after the additional development is completed.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address whether any psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and bipolar disorder is related to service, and if so, to determine its effective date.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted with an effective date of March 24, 1972.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder was granted service connection, and the issue of whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen a claim for bilateral recurrent pneumothoraces (lung condition) was withdrawn. The Veteran is also entitled to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for right foot drop due to VA medical treatment.

The Board found that the appellant did not have an acquired psychiatric disorder during his period of active duty for training and that the current psychiatric disorders are not related to injury or disease incurred in service. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder was denied as there is no evidence of a prior informal or formal claim filed before April 22, 2005.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bipolar disorder and granted it, finding that there is at least as likely as not a link between the Veteran's in-service experiences and his current disability.,The Board also granted TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder, finding that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for bipolar disorder (now claimed as a mood disorder identified as bipolar disorder with depression). The claims for increased ratings for left knee DJD and internal derangement remain denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including scheduling a hearing before the Board.