Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for cause of death. The Veteran's service-connected mental health disorder is found to be at least as likely as not related to his suicide, which caused his death.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder (previously evaluated as PTSD) is rated at 70 percent since June 19, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including generalized anxiety disorder, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the feet, and psoriasis, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his right shoulder disorder and TDIU claim were both denied. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not preclude him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional efforts to verify the Veteran's reported in-service stressor and for an additional VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorders that may be present.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and for psychosis for the purpose of establishing eligibility for treatment pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1702, finding that there was no evidence of a psychosis within two years of service separation.,The Board concluded that the Veteran's pre-existing psychiatric conditions did not increase in severity during his military service and thus denied service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher initial rating for PTSD with MDD and GAD with panic attacks prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety disorder. Service connection for a heart disability is denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's claimed stressors, particularly regarding civilian deaths in Korea. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities have been rated at 10 percent since April 28, 2001. Effective March 2, 2017, the Veteran is entitled to a 20 percent rating for each ankle disability due to marked limitation of motion. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder has not been linked to service or any incident thereof and thus does not meet criteria for service connection. The Veteran's TDIU claim has also been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and private medical records, scheduling VA examinations to address his claimed psychiatric and orthopedic disabilities, and readjudication of the claims.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for service-connected bilateral hand tremors has been withdrawn. For the entire period on appeal, her anxiety disorder with personality disorder is manifested by significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder (not otherwise specified). However, the claim was denied as there is no evidence showing a current disability resulting from active military service.

The Board found no evidence of a service connection for the claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, cervical spine disorder, left shoulder disability, or bilateral hearing loss disability.,All three disabilities were not shown to be related to military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a sinus disability and granted it. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and heart disability are not attributable to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, bilateral cataracts, and acquired psychiatric disability are service-connected. The Board also found no evidence of peripheral vascular disease, diabetic cystopathy, or gastroparesis.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and has determined that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also found that there is sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders and his in-service symptoms, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a psychiatric disability, which was granted on January 28, 2011. The Board finds that this is the earliest date after the May 2007 rating decision where the Veteran expressed intent to reopen his claim.