Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, left foot plantar fasciitis, and acquired psychiatric disorder (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) are granted. The Board has remanded the cases for additional development related to his chronic fatigue syndrome and restless leg syndrome.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's claim will be further evaluated with a new examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The remaining issues were remanded for further examination and review.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions. The examiner must also assess whether these conditions are related to service or worsened by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disability (including depression and PTSD), left foot disability, and hypertension have been denied as there is no evidence of such conditions in service or secondary to a service-connected condition.,Service connection cannot be granted because the Veteran has not provided any specific allegations regarding these disabilities. There are also no complaints, treatment records, or diagnoses related to these conditions during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and opinions, and for obtaining updated treatment records. The claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a higher rating for residuals of TBI are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's previously denied claims for left knee pain, bilateral hearing loss, back disability, skin lesions, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to his service. The Veteran was stationed aboard USS Wilkinson during his active duty and reported two in-service stressors: firing of guns while he was on board and a fire that resulted in the death of two soldiers.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The back, knee, and psychiatric disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder, NOS (also evaluated as depressive disorder and bipolar disorder) is rated at 100 percent since December 5, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and an increased rating for PTSD are denied. The Board found that the current disabilities are not related to military service, and the Veteran's mental health issues do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, effective throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's hypertension claim is denied as his blood pressure readings have not reached the criteria for a compensable evaluation. The service connection claim for Hysterical Personality Disorder (now claimed as Anxiety Disorder and Panic Attacks) is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has granted service connection for depression and anxiety, prostate cancer (secondary to depression and anxiety), bone metastases (secondary to prostate cancer), special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance of another person, and the Veteran's cause of death. The causes are all related to conditions incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder is remanded due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination and the retrieval of relevant medical records.

The claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder is reopened. Service connection for a respiratory condition and hypertension are denied. An initial disability rating of 50 percent for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and generalized anxiety disorder with somatic/panic symptoms, is granted as secondary to his service-connected mood disorder, cervical spine, and tinnitus disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected erectile dysfunction is not rated as compensable, but he is granted a TDIU for the entire period on appeal.