Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder resulted in occupational and social impairments with reduced reliability and productivity for the portion of the appeal period prior to September 16, 2009.,For the portion of the appeal period from September 16, 2009, the Veteran experienced total occupational and social impairment due to her fair impulse control, inability to maintain minimum personal hygiene, depression, violent episodes, impaired thinking with poor insight, and severe anxiety when employed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including panic disorder, bipolar disorder, mood disorder, and anxiety disorder, as well as a TDIU claim, are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and private medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, are at least as likely as not related to her military service due to aggravation of a pre-existing personality disorder during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disabilities were productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas (including work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood) from October 17, 2005 to October 26, 2010. From October 27, 2010, the disabilities have continued to produce such impairment.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 70%, which does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection for bipolar disorder with PTSD due to new evidence received since the September 2004 rating decision, including VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran's reported stressors are being verified.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, and Schizoaffective Disorder due to a personal assault during military service.

The Board found no evidence of a psychiatric disability in service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder was granted service connection and assigned an initial disability rating of 50 percent. The Board denied a higher initial rating in excess of 50 percent, but the case was returned to the Board due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than bipolar disorder requires additional development, including providing a VCAA notification letter, obtaining a VA examination, and readjudicating the claims.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for variously diagnosed psychiatric disabilities, including bipolar disorder and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that further examination and medical opinion are needed to resolve the claim for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder. The Veteran's pre-existing bipolar disorder is not presumed, but rather must be evaluated based on its relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain another VA examination and for further development of the claim, including consideration of whether different ratings may be warranted for different time periods in light of Hart v. Mansfield.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied on both issues: entitlement to service connection for a nervous disorder (bipolar disorder) and increased rating for right thumb disability. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the revised Diagnostic Code 5228.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the diagnoses of all psychiatric disorders. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated under the new regulations regarding PTSD.