Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case will be reviewed to determine if there is a current diagnosis of PTSD and whether it is related to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and the need for additional treatment records. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, needs further evaluation.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating and earlier effective date for tinnitus was denied. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and TDIU due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's cervical disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are granted service connection, with a rating of 70 percent for generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's PTSD diagnosis and its relationship to MST, as well as her right ankle disability. The Veteran needs a VA mental health examination to determine if she meets the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis and whether it is related to MST.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, finding that the evidence did not support a link to military service.

The Veteran's PTSD, prior to April 15, 2013, and as of June 1, 2013, is rated at 30 percent disabling. The Board found that the severity of her psychiatric symptoms more nearly approximated a rating based on occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions in a previous VA examination regarding the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and Persistent Depressive Disorder. The examiner was asked to provide more detailed information on the symptoms associated with these conditions, particularly those related to hallucinations and suicidal ideations.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, anxiety disorder (including depression), and Parkinson's disease were all granted. The Veteran was awarded a disability rating of 50 percent for his anxiety disorder, effective July 22, 2013. However, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding erectile dysfunction and anemia due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal. The remaining issues have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disorder, difficulty swallowing, sleep disorder, and headaches is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,The VA will also obtain any outstanding Social Security Administration records related to the Veteran’s disability benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's seizure disorder is granted service connection and he is assigned a 70% disability rating for his generalized anxiety disorder with bipolar disorder. The initial rating prior to September 26, 2017, was granted, while the increased rating as of that date remains denied.

The Board found that the original grant of service connection for mood disorder was not based on clear and unmistakable error, thus restoring service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and increased disability rating for service-connected left ear hearing loss due to new evidence provided by the Veteran and potential increase in symptoms since his last VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, was denied as there is no current diagnosis of such disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder was received on December 27, 1983. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at December 27, 1983.,The Veteran's original claim for service connection for a head tumor with secondary disabilities (scalp scar, seizures, and constipation) was received on March 17, 2010. The effective date for the grant of service connection is set at March 17, 2010.,The Veteran's claims for scalp scar, seizures, and constipation are secondary to his head tumor. These conditions were not separately claimed prior to March 17, 2010.,No effective date earlier than March 17, 2010 is granted for the service connection of these secondary disabilities as they are related to the primary disability (head tumor).,The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder including anxiety due to new and material evidence. The claims are remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected low back and lower extremity disabilities are found to be the primary cause of his mood disorder with anxiety, which is granted as secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, and for a higher rating for tinnitus was denied. The Board found that there is no legal basis for an assignment of a schedular rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.