Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connection has been established due to exposure to noise during service and continuity of symptoms since then.,The Veteran's stomach disorder is granted as service connection has been reopened with evidence showing current gastrointestinal symptoms.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of a psychiatric disability other than PTSD. The claims for bilateral elbow and left knee disabilities, as well as diabetes mellitus, type 2, hypertension, and hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging a new examination to assess the severity of his anxiety disorder. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorder are related to her service. The Board finds that the evidence is in a state of relative equipoise on all material elements of the claim, including the nexus requirement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, anxiety, or bipolar disorder and there is no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, scheduling a VA examination, and considering all applicable theories of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and opinion regarding his claimed psychiatric disorder and skin cancer.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's increased rating and TDIU claims, including consideration of new VA treatment records and a determination regarding an extraschedular TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and initial evaluations have been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records, SSA disability records, and a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorders have been rated at a 30 percent since March 11, 2015. The Board has granted an initial rating of 70 percent for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's PTSD and dysthymic disorder, to include depression, schizophrenia, and anxiety, resulted in total occupational and social impairment prior to October 8, 2012. Since then, the symptoms have been productive of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no credible evidence linking his current symptoms to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder that is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 70 percent disabling, effective April 6, 2015. The Board finds that a higher rating is warranted for the period prior to April 6, 2015.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's diagnosed anxiety disorder is etiologically related to his active service.

The Board has already adjudicated the issues of increased ratings for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and those issues are now dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of a relationship between his in-service injury and his current back condition.,Service-connected anxiety disorder, NOS, has been granted with an initial rating of 70% prior to January 14, 2017, and from January 14, 2017. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disability (depression, anxiety, PTSD), and hypertension have been denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.