Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for cervical spondylosis, right knee arthralgia, heart murmur, and bilateral ankle disorder as these issues were withdrawn by the Veteran's representative. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety/depression) is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, finding that the Veteran's current anxiety disorder is related to his military service and not due to any pre-existing condition or other causes.

The Veteran's mental disorder with depression and anxiety was granted a 50 percent rating prior to October 5, 2017. The case is remanded for an addendum VA examination to determine the current severity of his psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's Parkinson’s disease and anxiety disorder are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding exposure during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection of bilateral knee disability, residuals of carbon monoxide poisoning, obstructive sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen any of these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and increased ratings for bilateral glaucoma due to outstanding treatment records not being associated with the claims file.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, and Depressive Disorder as there was no credible evidence supporting the occurrence of in-service stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety is granted a rating of 50 percent, effective January 15, 2010. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus remains at a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was rated at 30 percent from May 18, 2011 to June 26, 2014. The Board denied a higher rating for this period. For the right knee PFS issue, the case is remanded as further examination is needed.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, finding that there was no evidence showing that any service-connected disability caused or contributed to his death. The Veteran's cause of death was listed as massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to esophageal and gastric varices, and hepatitic C cirrhosis with portal hypertension.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a more recent examination is needed to determine if her condition warrants an increased rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted. The adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood remains at the initial rating stage.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and requests another VA examination for a psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that his preexisting psychiatric condition did not increase in severity during or as a result of active duty service.

The Board has expanded the issue to include whether a change in the stated employment goal is warranted due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his attempts to obtain employment. The case is being remanded for an additional functional capacity evaluation, as well as for the Veteran to provide evidence of unsuccessful job attempts.

The Veteran's son, J.R., was found to be permanently incapable of self-support prior to the age of 18 due to various disabilities including learning disability, severe dyslexia, visual disorder, COPD with bronchial asthma attacks, and anxiety. The Board granted recognition as a helpless child.

The appeal for service connection for hypertension is dismissed. The appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability (to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression) is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder but remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD and depression due to lack of a clear diagnosis under DSM-5 criteria.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's anxiety disorder, effective from May 12, 2009. The issues of entitlement to higher ratings and TDIU have been remanded.