Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at a 50 percent rating for the period beginning April 23, 2018. The Board found that his symptoms warranted this increased rating due to reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for PTSD and anxiety disorder, as well as the claim for an initial compensable rating for acne vulgaris. The Veteran needs to be provided with VA examinations to clarify his diagnoses and assess the severity of his conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability, low back disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Service connection was granted for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's anxiety disorder claim remains denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased evaluations have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disabilities, finding no new evidence that relates these conditions to the appellant's military service.

Service connection is granted for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, anxiety, and a respiratory disability (lungs). An earlier effective date for service connection for anxiety is denied. A TDIU rating is granted. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's complete service treatment records need to be obtained and reviewed, as they have not been associated with his claims file. The issues of tinnitus, chronic headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, anxiety, and PTSD) are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety disorder, and alcohol use disorder, are found to be at least as likely as not secondary to his service-connected duodenal ulcer condition. The Board grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and examination to address his claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a compensable rating for post-operative residuals of appendectomy and small bowel resection for Meckel’s diverticulosis, and TDIU. The issues include whether the claimed conditions are related to service-connected disabilities or if they are secondary to them.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder with anxiety and right elbow disorder are granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia and other conditions, is granted. PTSD was denied. The claim for service connection is reopened due to new evidence.

The Veteran's anxiety and mood disorder is granted at a 70 percent rating from September 11, 2013 to April 27, 2017. The appeal for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for a right elbow scar was dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including OCD and PTSD, as the Veteran's current OCD is related to a traumatic event during his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder. A VA examination is needed to determine if any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is related to service.

The Board denied service connection for psychiatric disorders, hypertension, gastrointestinal disabilities, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct relationship to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and the Board does not have jurisdiction over this case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma, sleep apnea, and anxiety disorder as secondary to service-connected asbestosis pleural plaques due to incomplete examination reports and lack of consideration of certain contentions.

The Veteran's claims for foot fungus and diabetes mellitus were dismissed. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted, but the issue of reopening the finally disallowed respiratory disorder claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining service personnel records and providing VCAA notice regarding personal assault claims. The Veteran's tension headaches are not shown to meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 8100. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded.