Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not granted service connection due to pre-service drug use or willful misconduct. The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is currently rated at 70% and has been since July 11, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is related to his active service, but does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim for a psychiatric disorder remains denied.

The Board previously denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) has ordered a remand due to unclear reasoning in the previous decision and issues regarding aggravation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder. The evidence now shows that his current diagnosis of PTSD is related to his fear of hostile military activity during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for right and left ankle disabilities, right and left knee disabilities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in the November 2016 letter from Dr. T.R.F.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar degenerative arthritis and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and a mood disorder. The Veteran's back pain is believed to have occurred due to a personal assault during service, which may have aggravated his existing condition. The VA needs to obtain relevant medical records from San Diego NMC for both claims.

The claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was reopened, but the secondary service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is denied as there is no service-connected disability. The service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (reopened) is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative changes of the thoracic and lumbar spine has been reopened, and it is granted. The other issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder have been granted service connection, but the current rating of 30% is maintained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder, anxiety and depression, and PTSD have been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of an in-service onset or causation.

The Veteran is granted earlier effective dates for service connection of anxiety disorder, TDIU, and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits from December 19, 2011. The right knee disability was also granted an effective date of February 29, 2012.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions meet the criteria for a total disability rating due to individual unemployment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and securing updated VA treatment records. The AOJ will also obtain SSA records and determine if any of the claimed disabilities are related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including a diagnosis of PTSD. The VA will schedule an examination and review the records to determine if service connection can be granted for the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and thyroid disorder have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to active duty service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran was diagnosed with PTSD based on in-service stressors related to his military service in Vietnam. Service connection is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and translations of Spanish documents.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder and a rating of 10% for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his service-connected shoulder disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent effective August 13, 2016. His hypertension remains at a 10 percent rating.,There is no current diagnosis of a headache condition or right hand disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened, and the Board expanded his claim to include any acquired psychiatric condition. The case is now remanded for further evidentiary development.