Anxiety decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and MDD. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA psychiatric examination and consideration of all pertinent VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chest pain and diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's attempt to reopen his claim for service connection for depression, finding that new and material evidence had not been received.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity of his anxiety disorder.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and the claim to reopen was unsuccessful. The Veteran's right hand loss of use claim was also denied.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks, depression, and chronic insomnia is rated at 100% effective April 5, 2012. Ratings for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left and right knees are each rated at 10%. The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndromes have not been evaluated separately.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily his bilateral hearing loss and psychiatric disability, prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and migraines are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset during service or within one year of separation and is not otherwise related to service. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or an anxiety disorder, NOS. The VA examiner concluded that there is no evidence supporting these diagnoses.,Regarding erectile dysfunction, the Board noted that it could not be determined if this condition was related to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and depression were rated at 10 percent prior to April 13, 2015. From that date, the rating was increased to 50 percent. The Board found no evidence of total disability due to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the VA examination is inadequate and additional records are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The examiner must address whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are directly due to military service based on in-service stressors provided by the Veteran and his buddy statement.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left foot disability, dental trauma, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (insomnia, depression, anxiety, PTSD). He also seeks increased ratings for his lower back and right shoulder disabilities. Additionally, he requests TDIU.,The Veteran has filed a claim for service connection due to a dental trauma in service. The VA treatment records from the Perkins Dental Clinic and Dr. Kim's office have not been obtained yet.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (insomnia, depression, anxiety, PTSD). He also seeks increased ratings for his lower back and right shoulder disabilities. Additionally, he requests TDIU.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a neck disability. The VA treatment records from Dr. Kim have not been obtained yet.,The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for his lower back disability. An additional examination is needed to determine the extent of pain and loss of function during motion.,The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for his right shoulder disability. An additional examination is needed to determine the extent of pain and loss of function during motion. The examiner should also consider whether there are any flare-ups that cause additional functional loss.,The Veteran is seeking TDIU. He has not provided updated information on his employment status since the last VA adjudication.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and requesting an addendum to the August 2015 VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent, and his social phobia disorder results in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. His anxiety does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion and considering new private medical opinions. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder is still pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board has also remanded several issues, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.