Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD with Generalized Anxiety Disorder is rated at 100% since November 2, 2016. An earlier effective date prior to June 23, 2009 for service connection of PTSD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective January 17, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service, specifically his reported MST and in-service water event. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to determine if these events caused any of his diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The issues include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, GERD, migraines, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to a mental health condition.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD has been reopened, and the Board has ordered a VA examination to determine if his current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for other acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was found to be related to service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The rating reduction from 40 percent to 20 percent for cirrhosis of the liver associated with hepatitis C was upheld.

The Board has vacated the September 12, 2018 decision and remanded the issues of entitlement to increased staged ratings for an acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, including difficulty adapting to stressful situations at work, marital conflict, avoidance of crowds, and loss of interest in activities. The Board granted a higher initial disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD from April 8, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU grant.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether medications prescribed for service-connected conditions contributed to the Veteran's death. The examiner must provide an opinion on this issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability ratings for various conditions, including anxiety disorder, sleep disorder, depressive disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and TDIU.,Initial disability ratings are being remanded for HTN, ED, DM2, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on coronary artery disease, type II diabetes mellitus, anxiety disorder, and prostate cancer residuals have been dismissed. The issues of increased rating for anxiety disorder and total disability rating due to individual unemployability are remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected Raynaud’s Syndrome. Service connection for Raynaud’s Syndrome prior to March 11, 2009, is denied.

The Veteran is found not competent to handle disbursement of VA funds due to his mental health conditions, specifically Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records, particularly from correctional facilities and inpatient treatment at a military hospital in Germany. The Veteran's mental health conditions are being investigated further.

The Veteran's right hip condition is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,Service connection for the heart condition is denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis and failure to establish a link between the current condition and service or a service-connected disability.,Bilateral leg numbness is not linked to service, and thus service connection is denied.,The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with panic disorder has been granted an increased rating to 70% effective February 6, 2013.

Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, Type II, heart disorder, Parkinson's disease and prostate cancer. Service connection remains denied for the other conditions.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to VA treatment is remanded as the Board cannot make a fully-informed decision without further examination and evidence.

The Board has remanded both the claim for an increased rating and the TDIU claim due to inconsistencies in the evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's psychiatric conditions. A new VA examination is required to provide a clearer understanding of his current symptomology.