Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD, along with generalized anxiety and major depression, has resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking or mood. The Board found that a rating in excess of 70 percent is not warranted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's diagnoses and their relationship to service. The claims for service connection for anxiety disorder and depressive disorder must be further evaluated with a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU is being remanded due to the addition of new VA treatment records since the last Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a low back disability, residuals of right ear cyst removal, and diabetes mellitus due to new evidence submitted since the final decisions. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD, depression, anxiety) remains pending as it was not reopened.,Service connection is being remanded for the low back disability, residuals of right ear cyst removal, and diabetes mellitus due to unresolved issues regarding exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, mood disorder, anxiety disorder, and chronic depression, are granted. Service connection is denied for OCD, dissociative identity disorder, bipolar disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of any back disability, thoracic neuritis, left and right knee disabilities, sinus headaches, and major depressive disorder with social anxiety. The effective date for service connection will be determined based on the evidence.

The Veteran's initial rating for his PTSD has been denied, as the evidence does not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The claims for service connection of head injury, epilepsy, and PTSD (previously anxiety disorder) are reopened. The Board has ordered the claims remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, a low back condition, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety, is granted. The claims for residuals of prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure are remanded. TDIU is also remanded.

The Veteran is granted Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) education benefits at the 100 percent level due to his being discharged from service due to a service-connected disability after having served more than 30 continuous days of active service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other specified trauma-and-stressor related disorders. The decision also grants service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension, but remands these issues due to the need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability. The effective date issue is also pending.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding the claimed stressors.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with trauma stress disorder is granted, while service connection for hyperparathyroidism and chronic fatigue syndrome are denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all service-connected conditions, resulting in their dismissal.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder and anxiety disorder are rated at a 70 percent since February 19, 2015. For the period from February 19, 2015 to May 29, 2017, he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's anxiety disorder as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and duodenal ulcer (post-operative).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed adjustment reaction with mixed anxiety and depression is secondary to his service-connected bilateral lower extremity frostbite, granting service connection for this condition.