Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability due to new and material evidence, but remanded for further medical examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety and a heart condition, to include as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder, need further development. The claims will be remanded to obtain additional medical records and personnel records from his military service.

The Veteran's depression with anxiety and substance abuse resulted in occupational and social impairment, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, recurrent, with anxiety features was not granted a rating higher than 70 percent prior to October 29, 2014. The appeal for the total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service connected disorders is pending.

The appeal for service connection of hemorrhoids, heart condition, sinusitis, and urethritis is dismissed. The appeals to reopen claims for low back injury, neurological damage due to a back injury, residuals of head injury, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depression, anxiety) are granted.

The Veteran's facial scars have been rated as noncompensable due to the absence of characteristics of disfigurement or pain. The Board has found that the preponderance of evidence does not support a higher rating.,Several service connection claims for various disabilities are being remanded, including cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, left hip disability, sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), GERD, erectile dysfunction, headaches, neurological disabilities of the buttocks and lower extremities, chronic pain, and acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment prior to January 15, 2009, and he is therefore not entitled to TDIU during that period.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and for TDIU due to the appellant's failure to attend scheduled VA examinations. The Board finds that an examination is necessary to determine the exact nature and etiology of the appellant’s current psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records, as well as further development of the claim.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, sinusitis, sleep apnea, hypertension, chest pain, a dental disorder for treatment purposes, and ear disability. The issues are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, finding that there is no current diagnosis of a psychiatric disability and that any such disability is less likely related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities, schizophrenia with anxiety, and TDIU due to incomplete STRs and outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been reopened, but the issues are being remanded due to missing medical records and need for further examinations.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the previously denied service connection claim for PTSD and remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his Major Depressive Disorder with Anxiety Disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are remanded to obtain VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, a hole in the lung, and an acquired psychiatric disorder including depression and anxiety as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Veteran's osteoporosis is rated at 10 percent, and a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of motion of the lumbar spine as a result of osteoporosis has been granted. The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent.,Entitlement to higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability and duodenal ulcer was denied. TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD resulting from military sexual trauma, is remanded due to insufficient credible supporting evidence and conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to incomplete development of records and inadequate statement of reasons and bases for denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.