Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or maintaining more than marginal employment, and thus grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for major depression, anxiety, sleeping problems, and irritability as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spondylosis and strain/myositis has been dismissed. The appeal for a rating in excess of 60 percent for his service-connected lumbar spondylosis and strain/myositis has also been dismissed.

The Board has expanded the Veteran's claim to include all similar psychiatric disorders and has ordered a VA examination to determine if any of these conditions, including PTSD, are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The actinic keratosis, solar damaged skin, and solar lentigos claim was denied as the symptoms do not meet a higher rating under DCs 7800-7804 or 7805. The anxiety disorder claim was also denied as there is no evidence of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, particularly his PTSD. The Veteran is asked to provide information about any treatment and to have stressor verification conducted by JSSRC. A VA examination will be scheduled to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorder. The Veteran's PTSD is found to be directly related to his reported in-service stressor.

The Board has denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between any current disability and military service.

The Board has granted service connection for shrapnel residuals of the left hand, anxiety disorder, NOS, and PTSD. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been remanded due to insufficient information or need for further evaluation. The initial rating for tardive dyskinesia remains at 10 percent, depression with anxiety is rated as 30 percent prior to January 7, 2011, and 70 percent after that date. Service connection for left ear hearing loss, seizure disorder, and diabetes mellitus is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons for denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, mood disorder and anxiety. The Veteran's account of in-service experiences needs to be corroborated by additional information from his military training practices.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's depressive disorder and his service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including his claimed acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD, depression, and anxiety), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities. The remand includes a request for additional development regarding the Veteran's alleged exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a higher rating for anxiety neurosis are being remanded due to the need for additional documentation and an examination.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxiety and panic disorder is rated at 70 percent since June 9, 2014. The Board also granted a TDIU effective from June 1, 2012.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with anxiety features was granted service connection as it developed in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including Major Depression Disorder and Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with generalized anxiety was rated at 30 percent prior to June 30, 2015. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating are met and granted an initial 50% disability rating.

Your claims for service connection, an increased rating, and earlier effective date are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder with secondary unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability and does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for psychiatric and sleep disorders due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the presence and etiology of these conditions during active duty.