Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's anxiety disorder, NOS with sub-threshold PTSD since the effective date of service connection. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board found that it does not warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his ocular surface disease, lumbosacral strain with 50 percent L1 compression, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is service connected, but his back and right knee disabilities do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety is related to his service during the Persian Gulf War, and the Board finds that service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the claims for reopening the previously denied claim of service connection for insomnia and for service connection for anxiety before a decision was made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have Bell's palsy or dysphonia, and his acquired psychiatric disorder, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss are not related to service. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied as there is no evidence of its onset during active service or within one year of separation. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's psychiatric and sleep disorders were related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including an anxiety type disorder and a psychosis, did not originate during service and is not aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of aggravation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to assess the nature and origin of any existing psychiatric disability. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, has been rated at 70 percent since December 26, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to evaluate the severity of his service-connected psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, NOS are related to his military service, including his verified personal assault during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed mental health conditions, as well as whether they are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain updated treatment records and provide the Veteran with an examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service, including whether it was aggravated by service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review it.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, anxiety disorder, and diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's left knee disability is presumed to have been incurred in service due to a diagnosed condition during active duty. His anxiety disorder is related to his military service, specifically exposure to traumatic events. Diabetes mellitus is found to be at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's reported exposure to Malathion insecticide while serving as an air policeman.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and anxiety reaction with depressive and compulsive features were denied in final September 1972, August 2003, and December 2008 rating decisions. The Veteran is seeking an effective date prior to January 31, 2012.

The Veteran's awards of service connection for PTSD, GAD, panic disorder, and anxiety disorder NOS, as well as his award for hypertension are restored.

The Veteran's mental health conditions have been rated based on their current manifestations, with the depressive disorder receiving a 30% rating prior to April 27, 2016 and unspecified anxiety disorder receiving no compensable rating. The coronary artery disease has not met the criteria for any higher ratings since April 27, 2016. The effective date for TDIU remains at April 27, 2016.