Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression is reopened and granted, with the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressive mood, is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The examiner must consider the Veteran’s account of his service in Korea and opine on whether these conditions are related to an in-service injury or event.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depression, anxiety disorder, and schizophrenia. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service, with two private physicians finding a link between the disabilities and service while one VA examiner did not. Service treatment records show mental health issues during service, and both private physicians found current diagnoses were secondary to service.

The Veteran's death was caused by coronary insufficiency with angina pectoris due to congestive heart failure, which is linked to his service-connected PTSD. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected condition contributed to his cause of death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for acne vulgaris and anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified, are both denied as the current evaluations of 10 percent and 30 percent respectively are appropriate given the evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further stressor verification regarding the 1987 missile handling mishap and the shipboard fire in 1984. Additionally, a new VA examination is needed to assess his psychiatric disorder(s) and GERD.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, effective from the date of this decision. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient STRs and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and alcohol abuse, is being reviewed with a focus on associating these records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle disability and remanded the issues of service connection for psychiatric disabilities (including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression) and low back disability.

The Board affirms the grant of a clothing allowance for a back brace used by the Veteran for his service-connected back disability, but denies the claims for topical cream and TENS unit.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for initial ratings in excess of 30 percent for chronic migraines and generalized anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a malignant neoplasm, left breast, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, were denied as the evidence did not establish that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (asbestosis, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, status post right inguinal hernia repair, anxiety reaction, and lumbar spine scar) have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically Generalized Anxiety Disorder, is granted. The Board also found that the Veteran's claim for increased rating for post left thumb laceration disability should be remanded.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD and diabetes mellitus type 2 due to herbicide exposure has been reopened, and service connection is granted. The appeal is denied as the evidence does not establish a link between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to higher ratings for peripheral neuropathy and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and inadequate opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for pulmonary embolism has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder, a generalized anxiety disorder, and PTSD have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of status post right knee arthroscopy has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis from April 4, 2017, has been dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for an increased disability rating for anxiety disorder during a live videoconference hearing.