Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical evidence and the need for further examination regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD and depressive disorders. The examiner is asked to determine if the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition related to service, including radiation exposure. Additionally, an opinion on whether the Veteran has a separate diagnosis for a headache condition is needed.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder diagnosed as mood disorder, depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder has been denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for this condition is also denied.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection, rating for hearing loss, and evaluation for anxiety disorder (claimed as PTSD) due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent disabling, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss has been denied because there is no evidence of current hearing loss in this ear.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor and his current psychiatric conditions. The Veteran will need to provide deck logs from his service on the USCGC McLane, and a VA examination is needed to determine if his current diagnoses are related to his military service or his service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and anxiety), sleep apnea, and pulmonary disorder due to outstanding records and need for further examination. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety disorder, due to a lack of current diagnosis of these conditions. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support the Veteran's claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Anxiety Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, finding that new evidence submitted does not establish a current diagnosis or link to service.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating of anxiety disorder was granted, with a 10% rating from July 2012 and a 30% rating from March 2014. The appeal for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are service-connected, but denied his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain clarifying opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for stress disorder was reopened and granted. Service connection for depressive disorder is also granted, with the disability considered secondary to his service-connected conditions. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both rated at their maximum allowable levels. His knee disabilities and other conditions remain under review.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with other specified depressive disorder is rated at 30 percent effective from April 20, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, schizophrenia, and anxiety, is attributable to service. As a result, service connection for this condition is granted.

Service connection for hepatitis C is dismissed.,Service connection for PTSD is denied.,Service connection for other specified depressive disorder with anxiety is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD and MDD with GAD was denied as there is no probative evidence within the relevant temporal period, including one year prior to her June 20, 2014 claim, of an earlier claim or a factually ascertainable increase in severity of her service-connected psychiatric disabilities.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for DEA benefits was denied as there is no evidence showing the Veteran had a permanent and total disability rating due to service-connected disabilities prior to June 20, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, as well as their relationship to service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for migraines and depressive disorder with anxiety were denied as the evidence did not show symptoms that warranted a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and review of the Veteran's claims file, particularly regarding his claimed anxiety disorder and PTSD. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, has been reopened and is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his claimed stressor.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is found to be caused by his active military service, and service connection for this condition is granted.