Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Veteran's asthma, anxiety disorder, and sinus headaches have been granted service connection. The rating for sinus headaches has been increased to 30 percent. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70% disability rating for unspecified anxiety disorder is denied as there was no factual basis to assign the rating prior to July 8, 2014.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, categorized as anxiety disorder with obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic attacks, is rated at 50% prior to September 16, 2008, and remains at that rating from that date. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating and TDIU benefits related to his service-connected chronic adjustment disorder with anxiety, depression, and paranoia is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 14, 2015 and May 11, 2016 for service connection due to lack of formal or informal claims before those dates. The case is remanded for issuance of a Statement of the Case on the issue of an effective date prior to May 11, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for an initial compensable evaluation for anxiety disorder and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities because there is insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's mental health conditions. A new VA examination is needed, and the issues are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for further development and opinion regarding the Veteran's left hip condition and acquired psychiatric disorders, other than PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for service connection of PTSD, Major Depression, and Anxiety related to his combat service in Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a VA examination. The issues are also remanded for consideration of entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an inguinal hernia, bilateral ankle disorder, insomnia, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) due to lack of evidence supporting service connection.,Service connection is not granted for any of these conditions as there is no credible evidence linking them to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, service connection for an eye disability and memory loss condition, as well as the effective date of TDIU. Additional evidence will be reviewed, and VA examinations will be scheduled to assess the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a stomach disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board grants this issue.,The Veteran's claims regarding sleep apnea, right knee disabilities, left knee disabilities, right foot hallux valgus, left foot hallux valgus, lumbar paravertebral fibromyositis, and anxiety disorder are all remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected back disability and to provide an opinion on whether any acquired psychiatric disability is related to or aggravated by his service-connected back condition.

Service connection granted for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and PTSD), ischemic heart disease, and bilateral gynecomastia. Service connection was denied for borderline first degree AV block, gastroenteritis, and chronic constipation.,A 10 percent rating is granted for anterior chest wall syndrome with atypical chest pain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing records and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective March 12, 2012. The Board also granted TDIU based on the combined rating of PTSD and other service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate nexus opinion and incomplete service personnel records, particularly regarding the Veteran's reported stressors in Thailand.

The Board denied restoration of the 100% rating for thyroid cancer and denied an initial rating in excess of 30% for depressive disorder with anxiety since August 1, 2007. The Veteran's thyroid cancer residuals are currently rated as 10%. The depression is currently rated as 30%. Further evaluation and evidence collection are needed to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder does not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.