Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and adjustment disorder, finding that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disability related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for TBI with post-concussion syndrome is remanded due to inadequate VA examination. The claim for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disability remains pending and requires issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting opinions on whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his military service. The VA examiner needs to reconcile these findings and provide a clear opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's conditions and his service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's representative requested additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, finding that the Veteran's symptoms do not warrant a higher rating based on his occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder, back disorder, left knee disorder, and radiculopathies of the lower extremities, have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since January 31, 2013. Effective that date, he is granted a TDIU.

The Board has combined the three separate claims for depression, anxiety and phobias into a single claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. The issue is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the appeal as the Veteran did not timely file a substantive appeal within 60 days of receiving the Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has granted service connection for headaches. Service connections for sinusitis, obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disability (depressive disorder, NOS and anxiety) are remanded due to the need for further medical examination.

The appeal to reopen service connection for spondylosis at L5-S1 was granted. Service connection for the spine disorder is also granted. The appeals for service connection for anxiety and bipolar disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent from October 26, 2015. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating as they did not meet the criteria for a 70% or 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's claim to reopen a service connection for a psychiatric disorder is granted. The left wrist fracture residuals are now rated at 10 percent, effective July 6, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, residuals of a heat injury, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess her knee disabilities and consideration of the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, and his adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood was not found to warrant higher ratings.

The Veteran's tension headaches are found to be secondary to her service-connected cervical spine disability.,Service connection for an anxiety disorder is granted as it is related to the Veteran’s service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities.,Service connection for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity and left lower extremity is denied due to lack of current diagnosis.,Service connection for a heart condition is denied as there is no evidence linking the disability to service.,The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability remains at 20% since August 9, 2017.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to a lack of recent VA examinations and records. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and adjustment reaction disorder with depression and anxiety are both being evaluated, as is his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus was denied, and the psychiatric appeal was remanded. The diabetes mellitus increased rating appeal is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder has been reopened. The case is remanded for further development including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disability.