Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is granted, and the left foot disability claim is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of his acquired psychiatric disorder, thoracic strain, and headaches due to incomplete information provided by the Veteran regarding stressful events during service. The Veteran will be asked to provide records from One Source and identify his current unit in the Marine Corps Reserve. An examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorders and the severity of his thoracic spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, bipolar disorder I with alcohol use disorder, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The examiner will determine if there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's pre-existing psychiatric disabilities did not worsen during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders and their relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and anxiety tension state, as well as PTSD. The Veteran's pre-existing anxiety tension state was not found to be aggravated by his military service, and he did not have a diagnosis of PTSD at any time during the appeal period.

The Board previously denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case was remanded due to a Joint Motion for Remand (JMR) that directed the Board to address whether anxiety disorder is related to service, including a conceded aircraft accident witnessed by the Veteran.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is granted service connection. The issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for PTSD because new evidence did not provide sufficient information to verify the alleged stressors and there was no supporting documentation in his service records.

The Veteran's service-connected dysthymic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks prior to August 27, 2017. Since then, the disability did not manifest total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including an adjustment disorder with anxious mood, persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), and generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks, sleep problems, and depressive episodes, is rated at 70 percent from October 25, 2004.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder have been granted a disability rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of this decision. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability has also been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disability diagnosed during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including mood disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, are related to his service. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion based on the presumption that the Veteran was sound at entrance to service with no pre-existing mental health diagnoses.

The Veteran's diabetes is granted as presumptively due to herbicide agent exposure. The hypertension and psychiatric disorders are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of hearing loss and low back disorder were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at a 70 percent rating, but not higher. The decision also remanded the issue of service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional medical inquiry into service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD due to MST, and for a higher rating for migraines. The TDIU claim is also on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety, due to conflicting findings in his medical records. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and bipolar disorder. The case will be reviewed again with a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for Social Anxiety Disorder from April 30, 2014 to April 20, 2017 was denied. The Veteran's TDIU claim from April 30, 2014 to April 20, 2017 was granted.