Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety and cognitive disorder due to TBI is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they do not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right hip condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete examinations and lack of etiological opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety and depression) was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, including obtaining medical records from SSA and conducting a psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's application for S-DVI was denied because it was not filed within the two-year period after service connection for PTSD was established, and there is no evidence of mental incompetence to extend this time limit.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other psychiatric disorders, including Generalized Anxiety, Alcohol Use Disorder, and Cannabis Use Disorder. The Veteran's stressor related to racially motivated harassment during active service is considered established.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, led to total occupational and social impairment from May 26, 2006 to August 13, 2013. The Board granted a 100% rating for this period.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder was improper due to conflicting evidence regarding whether these conditions were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence since the January 2017 Statement of the Case.

Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is granted. Service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there was no causal relationship between his current symptoms and his in-service stressor. The evidence did not support a link between the Veteran’s in-service incident and his current psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's request to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection of a right shoulder disorder was denied. Service connection for anxiety disorder is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, depression, and bipolar disorder, was denied. The Board found that the current psychiatric disorders were not caused by or related to active service. Additionally, the TDIU claim was also denied as the Veteran is not service connected for any disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for dysthymia and anxiety disorders as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disorder. The claim of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected lumbar spine disorder is remanded.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD is granted. The issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for gastritis is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches, liver condition, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder due to lack of evidence supporting the claims on the merits.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, are found to be related to his service in Vietnam. Service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA psychiatric examination.