Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and incomplete information regarding the Veteran's mental health history. The issues of service connection for a left shoulder strain, evaluation in excess of 50 percent for anxiety disorder beginning January 14, 2014, and effective date earlier than January 14, 2014 for the award of a 50 percent evaluation for anxiety disorder are all remanded. The issue of TDIU is also remanded due to its inextricability from the other issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to decide the claims and requires further development. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, polysubstance abuse versus dependence, psychotic disorder, anxiety disorder, PTSD, MDD, bipolar disorder, substance induced psychosis/delirium, and personality disorders are remanded for additional examination and consideration of all available records.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxiety and depression has rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including a VA examination to determine if he has any current psychiatric disorders and whether they are related to his service. The hearing loss claim also requires a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that her current diagnosis is not related to her military service or secondary to her service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The PTSD is linked to combat stressors in Vietnam and Desert Storm, while the anxiety disorder is found to be related to service due to multiple factors including combat exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims. The Board also found that there is no link between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate or incomplete examination reports and because there is evidence of a relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with substance abuse disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability level.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a valid diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, and therefore, there is no basis for service connection in this case.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety, was granted a disability rating of 50 percent from September 12, 2014 to October 19, 2016.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically generalized anxiety disorder, is granted service connection. The remaining issues are either dismissed or remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical segmental dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, fatigue, skin disability, left hip disorder, and low back disability due to lack of a VA examination or medical opinion.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his military service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C is not the cause of his bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, spider angiomas, or unspecified anxiety disorder with panic attacks, agoraphobia, and major depressive disorder.,A rating in excess of 70 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder with panic attacks, agoraphobia, and major depressive disorder from February 16, 2017 is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was granted service connection and found to have begun in service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically anxiety disorder, was also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, finding that these conditions had their onset during active duty service. The claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis is remanded for a new examination to determine the predominant disability and extent of scarring. The service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is also remanded due to lack of a VA examination.