Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and alcoholism) have been remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The Board requires a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current hearing loss disability and psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and a TDIU rating is granted.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and anxiety disorder were denied in January 2015, which became final. The Veteran did not appeal these decisions or submit new evidence to reopen the claims before September 25, 2016. Therefore, his effective dates are set at September 25, 2016.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood has been granted a 50 percent disability rating, effective February 13, 2017. TDIU on a schedular basis is also granted as of this date.

The Board has denied all service connection claims, finding no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and active service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, with posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder, is rated at 70 percent. The Board found that the symptoms more closely approximate a 70 percent rating but not a higher one.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions and their relationship to his service. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records, including those from his therapist, and undergo a VA examination to determine if he has any current psychiatric disorders and whether they are related to his service.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his service-connected psychiatric disorders was dismissed as the Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal in January 2019.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD with depression and anxiety is related to his service in Vietnam, including witnessing death and serious injury of fellow service members. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability and for an acquired psychiatric disability. The claim for chest pain is remanded, as are the claims for increased rating of the back disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected anxiety disorder does not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and there is no evidence of unemployability due to his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability ratings for chronic sinusitis and a psychiatric disability was dismissed. The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include depression and anxiety, but denied the claim for increased disability ratings for his lumbar spine strain.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, heart failure, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety). The decision is based on the lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and service.,There was no credible evidence presented to support claims that any of these conditions began during or were otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is granted service connection, but his PTSD and tinnitus claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected generalized anxiety disorder, cold injury of the left foot, and cold injury of the right foot. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for HIV, CAD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's in-service dental procedure and his current diagnoses.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and PTSD, is currently rated at 50 percent. The Board finds that the condition more closely approximates a 50 percent rating based on occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's service connection claim for anxiety is being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and examination.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, left shoulder disorder, eye twitch, heart murmur, nightmare disorder, sleep disorder, and anxiety disorder as there was no evidence of a current disability or chronic condition related to military service.,There were no medical records documenting the Veteran's claimed conditions during his active duty service. The VA examinations did not find any clinically diagnosed conditions for these disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% disability rating. The Board denied an increased rating as the evidence did not show deficiencies in most areas.