Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD. The VA will attempt to corroborate the Veteran’s reported stressors and provide a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his current mental health conditions.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is granted service connection. The initial rating for mitral valve prolapse remains at 60 percent, and the initial ratings for headaches (30%) and gastrointestinal disorder (10%) are also maintained.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service connected disabilities (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to potential service connection issues, including a need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his conditions and military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an Anxiety Disorder, and a Dysthymic Disorder (claimed as Depression) due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychological disorder, including PTSD, is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to clarify his current diagnosis and determine its relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a headache disorder, respiratory condition, hypertension, insomnia, peripheral vascular disease of the left and right lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety, depression, and PTSD) due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records and a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorder is related to military service.

The Board denied the claim for service connection of an acquired psychological disorder, including schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression, as it found no evidence linking these conditions to the appellant's period of active duty for training.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected depressive disorder, with unspecified anxiety disorder and polysubstance disorder in remission prior to May 22, 2018 was denied. From May 22, 2018, a 70 percent disability rating is granted.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU from May 22, 2018 was granted.

The appeal to reopen a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The entitlement to service connection for the same condition is remanded.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, characterized by symptoms such as irritability, anger issues, and strained relationships with family members and co-workers, warrants a 70 percent disability rating since September 14, 2009.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with occasional decreases in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if additional conditions are associated with or secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for an anxiety disorder, effectively dismissing the cases.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, major depressive disorder (MDD), panic disorder, and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, are etiologically related to his service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD was denied, but he was granted a TDIU due to his PTSD.

The Veteran's TMD, anxiety disorder, and migraine headaches are service-connected. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for shoulder disability and back disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% effective December 13, 2018.