Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The reduction in rating for his left knee instability from 10 percent to 0 percent, effective March 1, 2017, is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development of evidence, including obtaining VA treatment records and inpatient psychiatric records from service. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection, increased rating, and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his current appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with depression and anxiety, as well as right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's initial rating claim for left/bilateral hearing loss will be adjudicated after the grant of service connection for his right ear.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent since November 18, 1971 and increased to 70 percent effective February 3, 1988. The claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) was granted.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his employment has not been precluded due to his anxiety disorder since April 15, 2013.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, and Depressive Disorder, is related to his service. The claim for insomnia was not granted as secondary to a service-connected disability. Hypertension was not granted as incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for insomnia prior to June 8, 2014 was granted. His claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent since June 9, 2014 for unspecified anxiety disorder was denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, an anxiety disorder other than PTSD, a depressive disorder, and a substance-abuse disorder. The evidence submitted since the December 1996 rating decision relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate this claim.

The Veteran's hematuria was found to have its onset during service and is granted service connection. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression) and hypercholesterolemia are remanded as additional development is required. Increased ratings for allergic rhinitis with sinusitis and anemia are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of Generalized Anxiety Disorder was denied as there is no evidence showing a pending claim or new and material evidence prior to October 29, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension with chronic kidney disease, nephrolithiasis, maxillary sinusitis, anxiety disorder, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, are of such severity that they preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent prior to July 26, 2017. The evidence does not show that the disability warranted a higher rating during this period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with a new examination to assess his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Veteran may also be provided with an examination to determine whether he has PTSD or another psychiatric disorder related to military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his service experiences, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected PTSD with anxiety disorder, to include motor tic disorder, panic attacks, and depressive disorder.,The Veteran is currently rated at 50 percent for this condition effective June 27, 2017.

The Veteran's asthma was not found to be related to service or environmental exposures. Service connection for OSA and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, were denied.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased rating for his service-connected prostate adenocarcinoma and anxiety and depressive disorders (now claimed as PTSD) have been denied.,The Veteran is currently rated at 30 percent for his psychiatric disorder, but contends that a higher disability rating is warranted.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety and depressive disorders. The Board has determined that further development is needed to clarify the nature of his current diagnoses and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressive mood and PTSD, is found to be related to his service in Vietnam.