Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression. However, the case is remanded as additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder, valvular heart disease, tinnitus, and glaucoma, make it at least as likely as not that he cannot secure or maintain employment due to his conditions. As a result, the Board has granted TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for a lower back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and military service.

The Board denied service connection for right knee DJD and anxiety disorder NOS and PTSD, finding that the current conditions are not related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for alcohol dependence due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depressive disorder, and alcohol dependence as secondary to MST.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of anxiety disorder is being remanded. The issue regarding the September 1994 rating decision denying PTSD due to CUE is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's November 2013 claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is a new claim rather than a motion to reopen. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining private or VA treatment records and conducting a medical opinion regarding the relationship between any diagnosed mental disorders and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically Generalized Anxiety Disorder, has been granted. The claims for left and right foot disabilities, cardiological disability, headaches, and a rating increase for psoriasis are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to issue a supplemental statement of the case as required by previous Board directives.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have all been denied.,For tinnitus, the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent is already assigned.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and need for further development of records, including verification of in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder contributed to his death from lung cancer, COPD, pneumonia, and coronary artery disease. The Board found the evidence at least in equipoise as to whether GAD caused or contributed substantially to the cause of death.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on various conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings in most cases.

The Veteran's hypertension was not found to warrant a compensable rating, and the service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (including depression and anxiety) is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder. The Veteran's claim for service connection will be remanded.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, and Depressive Disorder is granted. The case is remanded to obtain a new VA examination regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, was rated at 50 percent prior to September 18, 2014. Since then, the evidence shows symptoms warranting a higher rating of 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and as secondary to TBI residuals. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any psychiatric condition or a link between such conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected psychiatric disorders, specifically PTSD and anxiety disorder. As a result, the claim for secondary service connection for sleep apnea is granted.