Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety due to military sexual trauma was denied as she does not have a current diagnosis of such disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for venereal warts and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected venereal warts, are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records, specifically from a period of active duty in 1995. The Veteran's anxiety disorder is suspected to have started during this time and was not present prior to service.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his adjustment disorder and TDIU are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence after the August 2017 statement of the case. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain any outstanding private or VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders. The Veteran must be provided with additional development related to his claims, including verification of non-combat stressors and a VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to provide requested information and complete a VA Form 9 within one year of being asked.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, left knee chondromalacia patella, tension headaches, and psychiatric disability (Generalized anxiety disorder and Anxiety disorder NOS). A rating of 10 percent but no more for hypertension is also granted. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus has been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and depression and anxiety, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, hiatal hernia, and seizure disorder have been granted. The Veteran's fibromyalgia, chronic URIs, OSA, and diabetes mellitus are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's PTSD, depressive disorder, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder are rated at 70 percent for the period from May 21, 2018. A TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for obsessive compulsive disorder and low back pain are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for anxiety disorder and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The claims file needs to be updated with recent treatment records, including those from the Vet Center in Saint Petersburg, Florida. A new VA examination is also needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's anxiety disorder. Additionally, the Veteran should be asked to complete a VA Form 21-8940 regarding his employment status.

The Veteran's aggravated anxiety disorder is caused by VA negligence in delaying the diagnosis of his prostate cancer, leading to worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral pes planus, hearing loss, a lower extremity disorder (claimed as knee or leg condition), an acquired psychiatric condition (to include anxiety due to trauma and unspecified depressive disorder), and vision loss, have all been denied. The Board found that the preexisting conditions did not increase in severity during service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The evidence shows that his current psychiatric conditions are related to his in-service head injuries but not directly due to those injuries.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and dysthymia, are remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions. Additional evidence is needed to properly assess the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to service connection and disability ratings for various conditions. The Board has determined that further development is necessary in order to make a determination on these claims.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for the cause of death and granted it, finding that the Veteran's anxiety reaction caused or aggravated his heart conditions leading to his death.