Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records, as well as an evaluation of whether any current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders including depression, GAD, and PTSD as these conditions are found to be related to the Veteran's in-service sexual assault.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left shoulder condition, and residuals of a head injury has been denied.,There is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including irritable bowel syndrome, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from December 6, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety and depression. The issue of service connection for a disability manifested by symptoms of throat pain and irritation, to include GERD, and to include as secondary to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, finding no credible supporting evidence that any claimed in-service stressor actually occurred.

The Board has remanded the issue of TDIU prior to November 2011 due to insufficient evidence regarding the impact of service-connected disabilities on the Veteran's ability to work during that period. A new VA examination is required.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, are found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and intermittent explosive disorder. The evidence shows no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including a new examination and consideration of lay statements.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, including depression and dysthymia, to include as secondary to service-connected hearing loss. The weight of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities are proximately due to or have been aggravated beyond their natural progression by his service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, which includes PTSD and depression, is rated at 50 percent for the period prior to November 2, 2014.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating were dismissed due to his death, and the appeal for an extraschedular TDIU prior to September 10, 2013 was also dismissed as it had already been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions of degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, left knee DJD, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, and major depressive disorder. The grants are based on these conditions being proximately due to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected skin disorder caused his claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including social anxiety disorder and depression. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if he has these conditions and their relationship to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's surviving sister is granted the remaining $1,882 in accrued benefits for burial expenses as she filed a timely claim and provided proof of payment.

The claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records. The Veteran's back disorder, gastritis, acquired psychiatric disorders (anxiety and depression), erectile dysfunction, and hypertension are all under review.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes, type II due to herbicide exposure and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, major depression, and an anxiety disorder), as well as increased ratings for right arm disabilities. The VA is instructed to verify the Veteran's claimed in-service Agent Orange exposure and schedule him for a VA examination to assess his current disability levels.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression. The VA must obtain additional medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder and TMD have been granted service connection, while the appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied. The left knee/leg disability, bilateral hearing loss, right eye nasal pinguecula and left minimal nasal pterygium, and bilateral eye Meibomian gland dysfunction/posterior blepharitis/dry eye are all remanded.