Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hip and knee disabilities have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeals for effective dates earlier than May 22, 2012 for the grant of service connection for right and left hip disabilities and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for headaches have also been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea secondary to anxiety disorder due to conflicting medical opinions regarding its etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, but denied service connection for PTSD and panic attacks. The Veteran's anxiety disorder and depressive disorder are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various musculoskeletal conditions, hearing loss, tinnitus, heart condition, Parkinson’s disease, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, depression) have all been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is granted a 30 percent rating effective March 31, 2017. The issue of entitlement to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia, and TDIU due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete medical records.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a skin condition, finding that the Veteran did not have these conditions due to any incident of his active service.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety disorder is rated at 70% effective from September 7, 2016. He also received a grant for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depression and anxiety, has been reopened. However, the Board has remanded this issue due to new evidence received since April 2012. The claim of service connection for high blood pressure (hypertension) is denied as it did not initially manifest within a year of discharge from service or be related to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for Hepatitis C has been withdrawn.,The claim of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for iliac nerve damage caused by VA surgical treatment in December 2008 is denied as the evidence does not show that the additional disability was proximately caused by negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or an event not reasonably foreseeable.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for generalized anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for updated records and a VA examination. The issue of total disability based on individual unemployability is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, a psychophysiologic musculoskeletal disorder with anxiety, is rated at 70 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran to undergo VA examinations and for additional development of his claims, including for service connection for headaches, an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as claustrophobia), and residuals of a right hand laceration.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,PTSD and anxiety are denied as not service-connected.,Bilateral hearing loss and major depressive disorder are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a lumbar spine disability, gastrointestinal disorder, headaches, sleep disorder, right foot numbness, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The VA is directed to obtain updated treatment records, verify periods of active duty, schedule examinations, and consider all relevant evidence in determining the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, including medications taken for that disability (including Sertraline, Risperidone, Zolpidem, Lorazepam, and Haloperidol), caused or aggravated his CAD. The Board also requested verification of Dr. T.J.D.'s medical specialty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion. The Board finds that a VA examination and medical opinion are necessary to determine the nature and etiology of any currently-diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction and associated complications such as diabetic nephropathy, anxiety disorder, right Charcot foot, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, skin ulcer, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, rendered him unable to secure or retain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted TDIU based on these service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for dry eye syndrome and headaches have been granted, while her claim for anxiety disorder has also been granted. The rating for presbyopia is set at 10 percent, and the rating for cataracts remains unchanged.