Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's current psychiatric disorder, unspecified bipolar and related disorder, is found to have originated during his active service. The Board has therefore granted the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type is granted effective July 31, 2012. The rating assigned is 100 percent.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as service connected.,There is no evidence of a current right wrist or left wrist disability during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bipolar II disorder with anxiety was denied. The Veteran also received a grant of TDIU and SMC based on housebound status.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar and depressive disorders, finding that there is at least a reasonable doubt in favor of his claims based on competent evidence provided by the Veteran during his hearing.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified bipolar and related disorder. The decision is based on evidence showing a link between the appellant's current diagnosis and his service aboard submarines.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted effective July 12, 2010, the date he filed his claim for service connection of PTSD with bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. The Board found that the Veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected PTSD with bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder since then.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have been dismissed as moot due to their having already been granted in a December 2020 rating decision.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for depressive disorder with bipolar disorder II has been granted effective April 9, 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's ED is secondary to his service-connected bipolar disorder. The VA will obtain a new medical opinion to address this issue.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for schizoaffective disorder, anxiety disorder, and bipolar I disorder due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's complete SSA records are requested.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder, hypertension secondary to bipolar disorder, and left knee disability have been granted. The rating for low back strain with degenerative arthritis has been increased from 10% to 20%. Other issues are either denied or remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bipolar disorder, hypertension, and left hip strain are granted. The claim for left hip strain is remanded due to a lack of an opinion regarding its aggravation by service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 70 percent for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder prior to March 15, 2021 is denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection remains September 18, 2012.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for bipolar disorder II with alcohol use disorder and cannabis use disorder was denied. The compensable hearing loss claim was also denied. Service connection for a peripheral vestibular disorder was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's bipolar disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for bipolar disorder has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's right ear scar is not productive of characteristics of disfigurement, visible or palpable tissue loss, or gross distortion or asymmetry. The claim for a compensable rating for the right ear scar is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for bipolar disorder prior to October 14, 2020, is denied. The claims for TDIU and effective date prior to October 14, 2020, for the grant of eligibility to DEA are remanded.

The Veteran is granted an increased initial rating of 100 percent for bipolar disorder, effective May 12, 2014. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual employability (TDIU) is dismissed as moot due to the grant of the higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD with bipolar mood disorder, finding that the earliest possible date for a claim was October 30, 2018.