Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his migraines, major depressive disorder with anxious distress (PTSD, anxiety disorder, memory loss), and traumatic brain injury. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability from the other issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any of the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for a VA examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety, bipolar, and depression mental health are being reviewed.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and anxiety), cervical spine DDD and IVDS, left ankle OA, and OSA as secondary to cervical spine DDD and IVDS have been granted.,New evidence has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for scoliosis and anxiety/depression due to missing service treatment records, particularly those from Keller Army Hospital where he was treated for a clavicle fracture and potential training accident. The Veteran is also seeking VA examination for his psychiatric conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety and PTSD, is related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits claim was remanded due to the need for a functional capacity evaluation considering his service-connected disabilities and its impact on employment.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to April 17, 2013 for the assignment of a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD with anxiety disorder and for TDIU was denied as there is no legal entitlement to such.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased rating, hypertension service connection, back disorder service connection, and deviated nasal septum service connection are not ready for appellate review due to a lack of a Statement of the Case. The case is therefore REMANDED.

The Veteran was awarded a 100% rating for service-connected generalized anxiety disorder, effective December 21, 2002. The appellant is the stepson of the Veteran and applied for retroactive DEA benefits from January 1, 2003. After several denials and appeals, the Board granted retroactive payment of DEA benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability and frostbite/cold injury residuals of the extremities were denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied as there is no valid diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV or DSM-5 criteria.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of entitlement to initial compensable ratings for tension headaches and a rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD with anxiety due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran needs updated VA treatment records and an appropriate examination.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder are now rated at 70 percent, effective April 6, 2017. The claim for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted as new and material evidence was submitted. Effective dates for the other issues remain pending.

The Veteran's service connection claims for myotonia congenita and adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of anxiety and obsessive compulsive thinking, finding that the denial in June 6, 1984 was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete records and need for further medical examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder was reopened, and he is now entitled to a rating of 60 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) from August 23, 2017 onwards. His claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral vascular disease, and nephrolithiasis are denied. Service connection for liver disease and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity secondary to diabetes is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, migraines, bilateral hearing loss, and a psychiatric disorder (anxiety), finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incidents, injuries, or illnesses related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for depression with anxiety is being remanded due to the submission of new VA treatment records.