Bipolar disorder — all decisions

The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 11, 2013, for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder based on new and material evidence constructively received within one year of the initial denial.

The Board granted an effective date of December 12, 2023, for a 50 percent evaluation of bipolar disorder and remanded the other issues for further development.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected unspecified bipolar disorder with cyclothymic disorder prior to April 28, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired mental health condition, to include major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, based on new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bipolar disorder and denied increased ratings for the lumbar disability, left and right sciatica, and chronic sinusitis. However, it granted an increased rating of 40 percent from March 7, 2022, for left and right sciatic radiculopathy and restored a 30 percent rating for chronic sinusitis.

The Board denied a higher rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and bipolar II disorder, as the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a more severe disability rating.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining outstanding Social Security Administration records.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right hand tremors, left hand tremors, gout, and chronic kidney disease to obtain outstanding VA treatment records and provide a medical examination.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed alternatively as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder, due to an inadequate VA examiner's opinion and a failure to fulfill the duty to assist in obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board denied an increased rating for bipolar and related disorders, but remanded claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and asthma.

The Veteran's initial rating for an acquired psychiatric disability, currently diagnosed as PTSD with bipolar disorder and other trauma and stressor related disorder, was increased to 70 percent effective July 11, 2019.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, currently diagnosed as bipolar disorder, based on service aggravation.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for bipolar disorder and an earlier effective date for a 100 percent evaluation of Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent - Severe with Anxious Distress with Alcohol Use Disorder, Severe; Intermittent Explosive Disorder.

The Board denied service connection for all the claimed conditions as there was no evidence of a current disability or that any of the disabilities were related to active duty.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD, bipolar disorder, and thoracolumbar strain with arthritis, and assigned initial ratings. The issues of Parkinson's disease, dementia, cervical neck strain, spinal stenosis, TDIU, and special monthly compensation were remanded.

The veteran was granted service connection for sleep apnea and an initial rating of 50 percent for migraine headaches, while other claims were denied.

The Board granted service connection for ADHD, finding that it clearly and unmistakably preexisted the Veteran's service but was aggravated by military service. The claim for bipolar disorder was remanded for further development.

The Board denied a compensable rating for chronic headaches and denied effective dates prior to specific dates for service connection for bipolar I disorder, unspecified, chronic headaches, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, to include unspecified bipolar and related disorder with anxious distress, cannabis use disorder, and other hallucinogen use disorder, due to missing records and a need for additional evidence.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for the Veteran's psychiatric disability, as the evidence did not support a retroactive evaluation prior to April 15, 2013.