Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder, finding that his current diagnosis is at least as likely as not related to his in-service mental health symptoms and that there is no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing condition.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, an eye disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during or were related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD and bipolar disorder are etiologically related to his in-service stressor, which is considered credible. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is granted.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal for all issues.

The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be alcohol abuse, which is not service-connected.,Service connection for the cause of death was granted due to a finding that his bipolar disorder contributed substantially to his death.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Bipolar Disorder, are not currently service-connected. The case is being sent back for further examination to determine if these conditions were present during or related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder does not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, given his education, skills, and work history.

The Veteran's Bipolar I Disorder was rated at 70 percent effective July 14, 2018. The initial rating for unspecified anxiety and depressive disorders prior to this date remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 19, 2000 for his service connection for bipolar disorder. The Court vacated this decision and remanded the case due to a procedural issue regarding a 'notice of disagree' submitted on June 6, 1997.

The Veteran's bipolar/TBI disorder is rated at 100 percent effective February 3, 2023. The Board found that the evidence showed total occupational and social impairment beginning on this date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, was reopened and granted. Service connection for PTSD was denied. The effective date of the award for post-concussive migraine headaches and TBI is set at April 11, 2017.,Service connection for TBI and left eyebrow scar was also granted with an effective date of April 11, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, unspecified bipolar disorder, and UTRD. The evidence shows a link between the Veteran's in-service stressors and his current psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's bipolar II disorder has resulted in total social and occupational impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's VA Form 9 was timely filed, and thus reinstates his appeal regarding service connection for right shoulder, right knee, and bipolar disorder.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for an effective date of April 11, 2006 for the establishment of service connection for a psychiatric disability. The decision is based on newly received STRs that were not available at the time of the original June 2007 rating decision.

The Veteran's emergency medical treatment at Good Samaritan Medical Center and Steward Emergency Physicians on March 23, 2018 was deemed necessary due to his mental health condition. The Board found that the non-VA facilities were the nearest appropriate level of care given the Veteran's urgent need for psychiatric assistance, and granted payment or reimbursement for the services provided.

The Veteran's mental health disability, which includes PTSD, insomnia, and bipolar disorder, has been granted a 70% evaluation effective from November 23, 2018 to November 2, 2022.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, mood disorder, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder, has been dismissed due to the Veteran opting into the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) review system.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, bipolar, and major depressive disorders, is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to conduct a new VA examination.