Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed psychological disorder and therefore, service connection for an acquired psychological disorder is denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including chronic back disability, osteoarthritis of the knees bilaterally, anxiety disorder, hypertension, lumbar radiculopathy, and cholelithiasis. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not service-connected, and his left ankle DJD warrants a 10% rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is remanded due to the need for a new examination.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to her combat service in Iraq. Service connection for the psychiatric disorder is granted. The low back disability, bilateral hip strain, right and left knee disabilities, and right foot disability are remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, finding that his symptoms began in service and have persisted since then.

The Board has restored service connection for anxiety disorder NOS, finding that the original decision was improperly severed due to a reasonable disagreement regarding whether the in-service military sexual trauma occurred.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors, as well as for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including migraine headaches and depression, have been found to cause or aggravate his current psychiatric disorder. His sleep apnea is also linked to his service-connected conditions. However, the Veteran’s DDD of the lumbar spine and hypertension are not related to his military service.

The claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety disorder and depressive disorder) have been dismissed. The claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss and anxiety disorder as they require further development due to outdated medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, other specified trauma disorder, and mild cognitive disorder. Further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to initial compensable ratings for gastroesophageal reflux disease with a history of esophagitis and an increased evaluation for generalized anxiety disorder. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records, scheduling examinations, and considering all applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart disability, hypertension, cervical spine/ neck disability, low back disability, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral arms and hands, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral legs, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral feet disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, thyroid disability, cerebrovascular accident (CVA), and acquired psychiatric disorder to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), nervous disorder, anxiety, and depression.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified, is rated at 50 percent. The Board granted a separate compensable rating for bruxism but denied an increased rating for the psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and unspecified anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent prior to July 20, 2017. From July 20, 2017, the rating remains at 50 percent. The appeal for a higher rating was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his combat experiences in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected panic disorder with anxiety disorder has rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, which is granted. However, his claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for the same condition is remanded due to new evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, anxiety disorder, and sleep disorder due to a lack of medical examination or opinion regarding their etiology.