Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis, back disability, bunions, bilateral hearing loss, sleep disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder) as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury, event, or disease that would support these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as it is unclear whether his major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder NOS causes or aggravates his diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected. The rating for Anxiety Disorder with Depressive Symptoms remains at 50%. TDIU is remanded due to the potential impact on benefits.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for anxiety disorder is granted. The claim of secondary service connection for urinary incontinence as related to service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sleep apnea, a psychiatric disorder (including anxiety, depression, and PTSD), and a left shoulder disability due to inadequate medical opinions and need for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The VA psychological examination in November 2014 diagnosed the Veteran with unspecified anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for ankylosis and bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn.,Service connection for periodontal disease (for compensation purposes) is denied as it cannot be considered a compensable disability.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, secondary to a service-connected cognitive disorder cannot be fully adjudicated without additional information from VA examiners.

The Veteran's current dermatitis is not related to his service, and the Board denied this claim.,The Veteran's tension headaches are found to be proximately due to his service-connected tinnitus, and the claim for service connection was granted.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder, other specified anxiety disorder, and panic disorder) is found to be related to his time in active service, and the claim for service connection was granted.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as the evidence did not support that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck cancer, with residuals is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, and a psychiatric disability including PTSD. The rating for total right knee replacement is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to his service. The VA needs to conduct a psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran has any current diagnoses and their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD, dysthymic disorder, and anxiety disorder) and the claim for entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's claims are being remanded because the examiner who conducted the December 2016 initial PTSD Disability Benefits Questionnaire did not consider whether the Veteran met the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-IV.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a cervical spine disability, residuals of a head injury, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to the Veteran's reported assault at Fort Dix in 1972. The VA is instructed to obtain Social Security Administration records, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination regarding his cervical spine condition, another for his head injuries, and a third for his psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathies of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment since February 6, 2006. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, umbilical hernia, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, depression) as new and material evidence had not been received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, including PTSD with MDD as secondary to PTSD, is now rated at 50 percent from November 29, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right knee disability, a psychiatric disorder including PTSD and an adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, and alcohol dependence due to new evidence added to the record after the May 2016 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's right elbow, left knee, and right knee conditions. The rating for anxiety disorder remains unchanged.