Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired mental disorder, including major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, insomnia, and PTSD was reopened due to new and material evidence. The case is now remanded for further examination and review.

The Veteran was not shown to be permanently and totally disabled from nonservice-connected disabilities prior to December 8, 2017, and therefore his claim for pension benefits is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with verifying the Veteran's in-service stressors and obtaining his service treatment records, particularly regarding depression counseling while stationed in Okinawa, Japan.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression and vaginal and uterine disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for cervical cancer, pharyngitis, asthma, and acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) were denied. The claim for service connection for digestive diseases is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for fatigue and an acquired psychiatric disorder, as secondary to service-connected tinnitus. The claims will be reviewed with VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye condition to include glaucoma is denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for somatic dysfunction, major depressive disorder, and anxiety as secondary to his service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the issue regarding service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD with anxiety disorder as it was already adjudicated in April 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability is rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of more than 70 percent is not warranted due to the lack of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right knee strain, left shoulder condition, low back condition, hypertension, anxiety, and depression. The decision was based on a finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for right knee strain.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient examination findings and need for further development. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorders, and sleep apnea are being addressed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including adjustment disorder with anxiety and PTSD is granted. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions and an additional VA examination is needed to determine their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder and alcoholism, finding that the evidence did not support a claim of in-service causation or aggravation.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety and depressive disorders, was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran’s symptoms did not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment.,An entitlement to a higher rating for his right shoulder disability is remanded due to new evidence showing increased severity since the last examination in December 2015. Additionally, TDIU was also remanded as employment status information is unclear.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was reopened due to new evidence. The claims for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, fibromyalgia, eye disability (blurred vision), bilateral hearing loss disability, respiratory disability (COPD, lung condition with patch), sleep apnea, prostate disability, tension headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder were all denied.

The Veteran's seizure disorder is rated at 40 percent, and he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board also found that he meets the requirements for TDIU prior to January 3, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and a need for an examination. The effective dates for the heart disability and psychiatric disability are granted but not changed.

The Veteran's initial increased rating in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety, depressed mood and panic attacks is denied prior to November 9, 2017. From that date, the Veteran's claim for a higher rating is also denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, DIC benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1318, and DIC benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151.