Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for her bipolar disorder and tinnitus evaluations have been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including failing to obtain VA and private treatment records for the Veteran's psychiatric conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, and ADHD, finding that there is no evidence to support a relationship between his current psychiatric disabilities and his service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depressive disorder, claimed as bipolar disorder, has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion from a clinician to address whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to military service, caused by his service-connected disabilities, or aggravated by them. The claim is still pending and will be reconsidered after the additional evidence is considered.

The Veteran's claims for a TDIU and an increased rating for bipolar disorder are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and failure to substantially comply with prior directives. The Veteran's complete Social Security Administration (SSA) records are needed, as well as efforts to corroborate her in-service stressors related to personal assault. An addendum medical opinion is also required.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD with other specified depressive disorder and bipolar I disorder is denied. The decision was final as the Veteran did not appeal or submit new evidence within the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, anxiety, and depression due to procedural errors in the initial rating decision. The Veteran is seeking service connection based on military sexual trauma (MST).

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA eligibility are granted with effective dates of July 1, 2020.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder with dementia was granted a 70 percent rating from July 23, 2003 until March 13, 2008. The effective date of the grant is July 23, 2003.

The Veteran is granted a 100% disability rating for bipolar disorder with psychotic features effective August 11, 2021. The Board found that the symptoms met criteria for total occupational and social impairment starting from this date.

The Veteran's service connection claim for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is granted. Claims for PTSD, bipolar disorder, and nervousness are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung or respiratory condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and his right knee disability. The issues of increased rating and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to inconsistencies in his employment history and income reported. The AOJ needs to obtain Social Security earnings statements since 2017 and provide the Veteran with another opportunity to submit a VA Form 21-8940 outlining his employment history.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, and mood disorder, is related to his service. Service connection for these conditions has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he is currently enrolled in college and has attempted to re-enter the workforce. The Board finds that his unemployability is due to his mental health conditions rather than his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Bipolar Disorder, finding that there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking and/or mood. The Board found the disability picture to be more closely approximating a 70 percent rating for bipolar disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The claim for an acquired mental disorder, including bipolar disorder, is remanded as there was no readjudication after a November 2020 rating decision. The claim for lumbar spine disability (claimed as pain) is also remanded.