Bipolar disorder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of post-discharge mental health treatment records, specifically those from San Bernardino Behavioral Health where the Veteran was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The VA examiner will need to determine if the psychiatric disorder is related to military service.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD, Bipolar Affective Disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder as there is no credible evidence of in-service stressors or a disease/condition during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been referred to the RO. The SMC claim is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these pending claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and additional medical opinions are needed regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, their relationship to service, and whether they are caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but has remanded it due to insufficient evidence on the etiology of his current conditions.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened, and service connection is granted.,Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and bipolar disorder), with aggravation by service-connected conditions.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disability is denied.,Initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy are denied.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for right hip disability is denied.,The Veteran's claims for neck, seizure, and TDIU disabilities are remanded.,No effective date provided as the decision pertains to current service connection status.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA examination and lack of verified stressors. The Veteran seeks service connection for PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, and Schizoaffective Disorder, which are all psychiatric disabilities. Additional development is needed to verify stressors and obtain a new VA opinion.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is caused or aggravated by her service-connected PTSD. The right knee disability may be due to the Veteran's in-service motor vehicle accidents and wear and tear from physical activity, but it could also be related to her cervical and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for bipolar disorder and a TDIU prior to December 19, 2016 are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The case will be further reviewed after the completion of the necessary examinations.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or any other condition.,Service connection was granted for depressive disorder, with the Board concluding that it is secondary to service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to MST and bipolar disorder is granted. Claims for gangrene of the left foot, gangrene of the left knee, gangrene of the right foot, and gangrene of the right knee are denied. The claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral hearing loss is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for reentrance into a VR&E program and eligibility for retroactive payment of education expenses, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not worsen to the extent that he was precluded from performing work duties or that his previously rehabilitated occupation was unsuitable.

The Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as bipolar disorder, is granted. His increased ratings for lumbar back disability and associated radiculopathy are also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and issues related to the Veteran's address. The Veteran is required to appear for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and personality disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and evaluation due to insufficient medical evidence on file, particularly regarding the Veteran's PTSD with Bipolar I Disorder. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it may be affected by the outcome of the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and traumatic plantar fasciitis are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and bipolar disorder with depressed mood and alcohol use disorder, as well as her claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is required to provide additional information about her employment history and submit records from Dr. P.B. at Grey Matters.

The Veteran's application to reopen his service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder, was granted. The claims for hypertension, bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy are remanded.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the issue of entitlement to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).