Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for anxiety and essential tremors as the evidence did not support a link to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders of anxiety disorder and depressive disorder are related to active duty service, and a rating of 20 percent for thoracolumbar strain is granted.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for a TDIU, an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder prior to June 17, 2015, and an earlier effective date for the grant of a 100% disability rating. These issues are currently on remand due to inadequate notice and development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for various psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, dysthymic disorder, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder. The case is being reviewed de novo due to new evidence added in October 2012. A VA psychiatric examination is needed to determine if any of these conditions are related to service, particularly the sexual assault claimed during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete records, specifically VA treatment records from September 2010 forward. The Veteran is advised to provide these records.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied due to insufficient information to corroborate the alleged stressor. After verification, service connection was granted for anxiety disorder, NOS with an initial evaluation of 30 percent. The Board finds a remand necessary as the regulations pertaining to the DSM-V are applicable and VA examinations should be conducted using these criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety disorder NOS and PTSD), and residuals of ocular trauma are all granted.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is granted as service-connected due to acoustic trauma sustained in active service.,The Veteran's near continuous thirst is not considered a separate disability for compensation purposes and thus denied.,The Veteran's anxiety disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD with depression, mood disturbances, anger, and panic attacks and therefore not separately service-connected.,The Veteran's left arm disability remains in dispute and requires further examination and evidence.,The Veteran's sleep disability (specifically sleep apnea) is remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's hypertension is remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology, including consideration of herbicide exposure during service.,The Veteran's prostate disability and left-hand skin disability are both remanded for a VA examination to determine their etiologies, including consideration of herbicide exposure during service.,reasoning_summary

The Veteran's claim for service connection for malaria was denied, and the Board found that he is entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between any current mental health condition and active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations related to his hearing loss, sleep apnea, heart disease, prostate cancer, stroke, and psychiatric disorders. The effective date of service connection remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for additional examinations. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorders, adjustment disorder, and panic disorder, is being reviewed for service connection.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including anxiety, bipolar disorder, insomnia, eye disability (including blurred vision), PTSD, and migraine headaches. The VA is instructed to provide a new examination for assessing these conditions and their relationship to service-connected disabilities, as well as to consider additional evidence received since the last SSOC.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed PTSD and other psychiatric disorders, requiring a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and Anxiety disorder as secondary to MST. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from 1975 and a psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to service-connected spondylosis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran needs another VA examination to address all diagnoses and determine their relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for generalized anxiety disorder has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychological disorder, including PTSD, anxiety condition, and depression, as well as residuals of a fractured jaw. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions were related to his military service.