Bipolar disorder — all decisions

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder should be remanded due to missing service treatment records. The VA is instructed to make additional attempts to obtain these records and provide them to the Veteran.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for acquired psychiatric disability and entitlement to a TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding in-service markers for a reported stressor.

The Board has vacated its August 27, 2019 decision declining to reopen the claim of service connection for bipolar disorder due to a failure to consider new evidence. The Veteran's claim is now remanded for further development and an examination.

The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected disabilities aided or lent assistance to the production of his death.

The Board granted the petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and granted service connection for left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, secondary to degenerative disc disease.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, and entitlement to a TDIU due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen previously denied claims of service connection for a back injury, bipolar disorder, headaches, and hypertension as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that it is proximately caused by the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The appeal to reopen the claims for service connection for depression, bipolar disorder, and hepatitis C was denied. The claim for service connection for PTSD was also denied. The issue of entitlement to service connection for anxiety was remanded.

The Board remands the claim for further development, including a new VA examination to address the Veteran's contentions and outstanding symptoms.

The Board grants service connection for residuals of bipolar II disorder, as the Veteran's condition began during active service.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include bipolar disorder, for a VA examination and opinion.

The Board granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder diagnosed as bipolar disorder, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for PTSD and other acquired mental health conditions, like anxiety, and bipolar disorder, which are not yet service connected, for an adequate opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, finding no current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-V or DSM-IV criteria. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to link the Veteran’s diagnosed bipolar disorder and personality disorder to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD and bipolar disorder due to insufficient evidence. The case will be reviewed again with a focus on obtaining additional medical records and conducting an examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, major depression, and PTSD, are at least as likely as not related to military sexual trauma (MST) during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including bipolar disorder and physical impairments.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder was initially rated at 30 percent prior to March 26, 2014 and increased to 70 percent thereafter. The Board found the symptoms more closely approximated reduced reliability and productivity for the period before March 26, 2014, but deficiencies in most areas from that date forward.