Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of all currently diagnosed psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has remanded to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to service. The Veteran was diagnosed with reactive disorder in service and later developed symptoms of depression and anxiety.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and anxiety) is found to be related to her service-connected disabilities, resulting in a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his 80 percent rating for renal disability and 30 percent rating for generalized anxiety disorder have been denied as the earliest possible effective date is April 29, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cognitive disability pre-existed service and was not aggravated by active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a cognitive disability is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and granted service connection based on evidence indicating that she experienced military sexual trauma during her service, which led to PTSD.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as cardiopulmonary arrest due to COPD. The VA examiner found that the service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death or aggravate his COPD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, specifically PTSD, major depression, and general anxiety disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and personality disorder (claimed as PTSD), finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his service-connected mental conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, associated MDD and anxiety disorder are service-connected due to in-service sexual assault. The Veteran also has a current diagnosis of coccydynia for which she is already receiving a rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA and VA treatment records, as well as new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder and pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including unspecified anxiety disorder and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for additional examinations. The Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, psychiatric disorders, leg pain, and foot pain are all under review.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and reopened the claims for SAH and SHA. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is found to be related to his military service, while the claims for SAH and SHA are denied as there are no qualifying disabilities.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with depressive disorder NOS is not rated higher than 30 percent, and the initial ratings for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are granted at 20 percent. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and medical evaluations.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other conditions do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, as his mental health issues are manageable in a solitary work environment.