Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic sinusitis with allergic rhinitis and denied service connection for hepatitis C. The claim to reopen the service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression, dysthymia, and anxiety) is remanded due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic headache disorder is granted. The claims for higher initial ratings for his lumbosacral spondylolisthesis with degenerative disc disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as the adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood are remanded for further development. The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for psychiatric disabilities, sleep apnea, heart disability, diabetes mellitus, and a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining his complete service personnel file and providing another VA medical opinion.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination and opinion due to the lack of an adequate assessment regarding psychiatric disorders present during the pendency of the claim, specifically depression and anxiety.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and conducting a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes PTSD.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various psychiatric disorders and other conditions. The main reasons are that VA examiners have not provided sufficient opinions on whether these conditions are related to service or any other relevant factors.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The claim will be further evaluated after additional development and examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional information and a further examination to clarify the diagnoses present during the pendency of this appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected.,The Veteran's anxiety disorder is granted as service connected.,Service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran is also asked to provide additional treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to lack of a current diagnosis in conformance with DSM-5 criteria. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (other than PTSD) and hypothyroidism are both remanded for additional examination and rating determinations.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and panic disorder with agoraphobia, are found to be related to service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, generalized anxiety and depression. The VA is instructed to obtain additional medical records and schedule a psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting diagnoses and a need for clarification of the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorder, excluding PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent disabling from May 27, 2010 and in excess of 50 percent disabling from June 13, 2013 for service-connected depressive disorder, NOS and anxiety, NOS, as well as the claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). Additional evidentiary development is necessary due to lack of recent VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions and disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, erectile dysfunction, and acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety disorder), as well as his service-connected foot disabilities and sleep disorder. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional evidence, including VA and private treatment records, and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for residuals of TBI, service connection for psychiatric disability (including PTSD), and an initial compensable rating and a rating greater than 30 percent from April 12, 2016, for seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp. Further development is needed to address these issues.

The Board has denied service connection for bronchitis and remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claims for left knee, bilateral shoulder, bilateral foot, headaches, erectile dysfunction, depression and anxiety, chest pains, blurred vision, and dizziness are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these disabilities began during active service. The appeal regarding residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is remanded.