Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and/or mood disorders, is found to be secondary to his service-connected HIV-related illness. The appeal for other issues remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and for additional psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her right knee conditions and mental health issues, rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 23, 2016. Effective from that date, she is granted TDIU.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified anxiety disorder, is granted service connection because it is caused by his chronic pain from his service-connected disabilities. A 10 percent rating for the low back scar is also granted.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left and right wrist disorders, index finger injuries to the left hand and right hand, pterygium removal from the left eye, chest pains, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of a link between these conditions and service.,The Board found that the Veteran's current wrist pain is not related to his in-service injuries and that arthritis of the wrists is more likely due to aging rather than service.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety disorder) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disability, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, headache disability, and anxiety disorder are all granted. The claim for an increased evaluation of the Veteran's anxiety disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorders are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for updated medical records and a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is at least as likely as not related to his active service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, and gastrointestinal (GI) disorder due to incomplete or insufficient examination reports. The Veteran is requested to undergo new VA examinations using DSM-5 criteria.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, specifically major depressive disorder and anxiety.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and psychiatric disorders due to incomplete records, including prison medical records. The case will be processed as though the request for a hearing had been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in a March 2015 VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran is requested to provide additional medical records and undergo a new examination for clarification.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete information and need for additional examinations. The issues include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a higher disability rating for left knee osteoarthritis, and eligibility for financial assistance in purchasing a vehicle or adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to February 15, 2017 and a rating in excess of 70 percent from February 15, 2017 to February 7, 2018 for anxiety disorder have been denied.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically anxiety and depression, as it was not incurred in or related to service. The Veteran's current psychiatric condition is attributed to other factors such as social stressors and pain from his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a keratitis condition is denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety, is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain additional private records, as well as an updated opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, secondary to service-connected left ear hearing loss, needs further examination and evaluation.