Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The Veteran is entitled to special monthly pension benefits due to his nonservice-connected disabilities and age over 65, meeting the criteria for housebound status.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for foot arch strain and obstructive sleep apnea was denied. The Veteran's bipolar disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board found that there is no reasonable possibility of obtaining additional evidence to substantiate his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD based on fear of hostile military activity in the Persian Gulf. The claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disability will be held in abeyance pending adjudication of the psychiatric claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the onset of his psychiatric conditions during service, and whether any preexisting condition was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is being remanded due to inadequate examination and the need for further clarification of the relationship between his PTSD and bipolar disorder.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that the appellant's acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and a nervous disorder, began during or was otherwise caused by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of the appeals as to increased ratings for status post torn right Achilles tendon, residuals of a fracture of the left little finger, and osteochondroma of the left leg, and entitlement to an earlier effective date for the grant of a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Appellant's disability compensation payments to the prescribed 10-percent rate, effective November [redacted], 2002, on account of his felony convictions and resulting incarceration was proper. The appeal for immediate reinstatement of his payments at the prior 50-percent level is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's current diagnosis of bipolar disorder is sufficient to raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder and OCD with depression and anxiety were rated at 30 percent prior to July 18, 2006, but the Board found that a higher rating was not warranted. Since July 18, 2006, the disability has been rated as 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining mental health records from service and a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current acquired psychiatric disorders are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, currently claimed as bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development.

The Board found no evidence of a psychiatric disorder during service or for many years thereafter, and there is no competent opinion linking the current disorder to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability was denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for psychiatric disability. The Veteran's reopened claim will now be reviewed on its merits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for an additional examination to determine the etiology of his diagnosed psychiatric conditions and whether they are related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bipolar affective disorder was not incurred in service, but the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court) vacated this decision and remanded it back to the Board due to insufficient medical evidence. The Joint Motion for Remand agreed with the Board’s finding on aggravation, but noted the need for another examination if there is insufficient medical evidence to assess whether the Veteran's disability first became manifest in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for further examination and clarification of the in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of issues related to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and anxiety attacks, as well as whether new and material evidence has been submitted sufficient to reopen a claim for hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is required.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for updated VA Form 21-8940.