Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, bipolar II disorder, and major depressive disorder. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported in-service personal assaults and continuous symptoms since service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including adjustment disorder, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, insomnia, and personality disorder. The most probative evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable rating for bipolar disorder from September 9, 2015 to July 31, 2022 was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for bipolar disorder from August 1, 2022 and forward was also denied. The Board found that her symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left upper extremity scar, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD, diagnosed as bipolar I disorder), allergic rhinitis, chronic gastrointestinal disability, and anemia. The case is remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's migraines did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to April 26, 2022 due to infrequent prostrating attacks.,For the period beginning on April 26, 2022, the Veteran's migraines did not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent as they did not meet the criteria for very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for bipolar disorder before the Board could make a decision.

The Board remands the matter of entitlement to service connection for bipolar I disorder due to a need for additional development, including obtaining relevant treatment records and a new VA medical addendum opinion.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether S.R. was permanently incapable of self-support prior to her 18th birthday due to her psychiatric disabilities, and thus grants recognition as a helpless child.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to November 8, 2021 for a 100 percent disability rating for his service-connected psychiatric disorders was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment prior to this date.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right hand is granted. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and gastrointestinal disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's increased ratings for his acquired psychiatric disorder and right knee degenerative joint disease and meniscal tear to include chondromalacia were denied. The rating for the acquired psychiatric disorder was maintained at 70 percent, while the rating for the right knee condition was increased to 20 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and a failure to obtain necessary service treatment records (STRs). The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression, is being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for migraine headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression), and bipolar disorder due to incomplete and inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's lay statements are also considered in these decisions.

Your claim for service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder has been dismissed as you did not appeal the previous denial of your claim.

The Veteran's hearing loss and ringing in the ears do not meet VA disability criteria.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claim for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including whether any pre-existing conditions were aggravated by service. The examiner must address all theories of entitlement raised by the evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for clarification regarding the Veteran's service prior to April 2003 and an additional medical opinion on his acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. A new VA examination is required to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for PTSD and Bipolar Disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's diagnoses and the relationship between his in-service stressors and current psychiatric conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining opinions on whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service or aggravated by his service-connected physical disabilities.