Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, increased urinary frequency, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The earlier effective date for the grant of an increased evaluation for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee scar and generalized anxiety disorder (claimed as PTSD) due to insufficient evidence regarding the in-service events. The AOJ is instructed to clarify when the Veteran believes an in-service injury occurred, obtain relevant medical records, verify his periods of service, and provide addendum opinions from appropriate physicians.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and anxiety, secondary to service-connected narcolepsy, and for TMJ. A new examination is needed to clarify the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's sinusitis and generalized anxiety disorder are granted, with a 50% evaluation for the latter beginning September 3, 2015. The left-hand crush injury claim is remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis, as the Veteran withdrew his appeal from this issue. The other issues were remanded for further development.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals on the issues of entitlement to increased disability ratings for irritable bowel syndrome and recurrent major depression with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder without agoraphobia due to his withdrawal of appeal.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating. The Board has granted a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from December 31, 2014 to December 2, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for various psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, dysthymic disorder, anxiety disorder, depression, and adjustment disorder is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran has PTSD as a result of his military service, and therefore grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder with psychosis. The rating in excess of 40 percent for left shoulder impingement syndrome remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee arthritis, deep vein thrombosis, atrial fibrillation, and anxiety disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether he can perform such work.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including myxoid liposarcoma of the right leg/groin and pelvis, chronic pain/chronic fatigue syndrome associated with it, fibromyalgia, lymphedema, premature menopause, loss of her right ovary, carpal tunnel syndrome, nerve damage to the right leg (lower extremity neuropathy), an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression), insomnia, and temporomandibular joint disorder with dislocated jaw. The denial is based on a lack of evidence supporting the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was reopened due to new evidence. The claim is granted as the evidence shows a relationship between the current psychiatric condition and service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), including anxiety and depression, is related to his active service. The cervical spine disability is not directly related to service but may be due to exposure to burn pits during service. Tension headaches are linked to the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and the Board has granted service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury. The claim for PTSD, anxiety, and depression is still pending.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's previously denied skin disorder claim is reopened, and service connection for a lower back disability is granted. Service connection for psychiatric disorders, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran’s claims for service connection for a back disability, heart disability, high blood pressure, gastrointestinal disability (claimed as diarrhea), acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety, depression, and PTSD), respiratory disability (claimed as breathing problems) to include COPD, left upper quadrant curvilinear calcification (claimed as aortic aneurysm), and enlarged prostate have been remanded for further development.

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

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with depression has been rated at 50 percent since the initial claim, reflecting significant impairment in occupational and social functioning.