Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, to include depression, anxiety and panic attacks, as due to MST was reopened. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current PTSD is related to an in-service sexual trauma incident, thus granting service connection.

The claim of service connection for PTSD is reopened, but the Veteran's current diagnoses are unclear and conflicting. The Board has decided to remand the case for a psychiatric examination to clarify the nature and etiology of any posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current psychiatric disability and his service. The VA must obtain any outstanding treatment records and provide an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder with psychotic features, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder is at least as likely as not related to a personal assault in service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to military risk factors such as shared razors and air gun inoculations.,Service connection was also granted for GAD secondary to service-connected bronchial asthma and hepatitis C. The Board noted that the Veteran had multiple risk factors for anxiety, including his history of asthma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, mood disorder, and anxiety disorder, finding that his current psychiatric disabilities are due to alcohol dependence and a frontal lobe infarction caused by willful misconduct during service.

The Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as dysthymia or depressive disorder, is granted. However, the rating in excess of 20 percent for chronic lumbosacral strain remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is found to be related to his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions and his military service, including sexual assault allegations. The claim is reopened but requires further medical evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding whether it was aggravated by an in-service incident of military sexual trauma.

The Board has remanded the cases of chronic arthritis of the neck, depression and anxiety, and Hepatitis B for further development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, specifically generalized anxiety disorder with panic features, is found to be related to his military service and has been granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of records, including SSA disability benefits information.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current psychiatric conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, as there is no probative evidence of current disabilities.,Service connection was granted for bilateral knee disabilities with separate ratings for the right and left meniscal disabilities. The Veteran received a compensable rating for his right knee scar and a 20 percent rating for tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, finding that there is no medical nexus between his current psychiatric disabilities and his military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to incomplete records and conflicting medical opinions. The cases are being returned for further development, including obtaining SSA records, VA treatment records, and additional examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including deviated septum, broken nose, loss of smell, difficulty breathing, an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD, anxiety, depression), diverticulitis, bilateral knees, and bilateral ankles. The Veteran will be scheduled for examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not to the level required for a disability rating of 70 percent or higher.