Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and evidence collection. The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for various conditions, but the decision is pending as more information is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety and depression) due to incomplete records and the need to obtain SSA records.

The Veteran's special separation benefits payment is properly recouped from his disability compensation, as required by law. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder not otherwise specified and chronic adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression are granted service connection. Service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone have not rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for an anxiety disorder but has remanded the issues of service connection for a right hip disorder, back disorder, cirrhosis of the liver, and chronic hepatitis C. The Veteran's migraines are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims related to his service-connected conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder, gastrointestinal disorders, urological disorders, prostate disorders, anterior cruciate ligament nerve disorder, and erectile dysfunction. The issues include determining whether these conditions are service connected and assigning appropriate disability ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxiety disorder has been rated at 70 percent since October 2014, and the Board finds that he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his disability.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as there was no in-service diagnosis or continuity of symptoms post-service. The Veteran's claims were not supported by medical evidence.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating, but no higher, for generalized anxiety disorder. The Veteran's pterygium claim is remanded due to the lack of an SOC. The skin disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus claims are also remanded as they involve incomplete development.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depression, not otherwise specified, and anxiety. The other issues of service connection have been remanded.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that it is related to his in-service experiences and stressors.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder. The heart disability issue is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, depression, and PTSD, has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive and generalized anxiety disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, hypertensive heart disease, instability of the left knee, limitation of motion of the left knee, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.

The Board found clear and unmistakable error in the November 1998 decision, which did not consider a claim for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. The Veteran's evidence supported service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's anxiety and social phobia result in some interference with work and social life, but he is employed full time and can go out socially with small groups. The Board found that the symptoms do not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent.

The Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorders have been rated at 50 percent since the onset of his claims. The Board found that while he has symptoms consistent with a higher rating, they do not meet the criteria for a 70% or higher rating.

The Veteran's major depression and anxiety disorder not otherwise specified were granted a rating of 70 percent for the entire appeal period prior to September 10, 2013.