Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for a VA mental disorders examination to clarify diagnoses and determine whether any current psychiatric disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities, particularly bipolar disorder, right knee disability, and right fifth finger disability. The goal is to determine if these conditions render him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, GAD, OCD, bipolar disorder NOS, and schizoaffective disorder, are found to have had their onset during ACDUTRA service and have recurred since then.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of psychiatric treatment rendered at the Clifton Springs Hospital between March 12, 2008 and April 9, 2008 is granted as it meets the criteria for reimbursement due to a medical emergency.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate examination and incomplete records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD and bipolar affective disorder, but the examiner found no PTSD on the basis of lack of in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been withdrawn.,Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (Bipolar Disorder).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to his in-service sexual assault and therefore grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was incurred in active duty due to military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, was incurred in active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder cannot be granted as there is no evidence showing a prior claim was filed before September 28, 2005. The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea secondary to his service-connected disabilities remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear at a scheduled hearing. He has requested that the hearing be rescheduled for a videoconference.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has any mental health disability related to service.

The Veteran's initial rating of 70 percent for his service-connected PTSD with depression, bipolar disorder and adjustment disorder has been granted. The appeal regarding the low back disability is pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development, including verification of all periods of service and clarification on the etiology of any acquired psychiatric disability diagnosed during the pendency of the appeal. The Veteran also needs to provide VA treatment records prior to February 2007 from the Dallas VA Medical Center.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, previously characterized as borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder, did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence showing an in-service onset or aggravation.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further development. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating for his mood disorder with progression to bipolar disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder, is found to be service-connected. The issue of treatment purposes only under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 17 for a psychiatric disorder has been rendered moot due to the grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and therefore service connection cannot be established.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, as well as a mental health examination to determine if the Veteran has any psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and bipolar disorder. The appeal is being remanded due to incomplete evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA psychiatric examination and an orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder) and right knee osteoarthritis.