Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is related to his military service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder NOS, depressive disorder NOS, alcohol abuse, and PTSD are granted. The service connection for degenerative joint disease of lumbar spine is remanded.

The Board has recharacterized the Veteran's claim as service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. The case is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and inconsistent statements by the Veteran regarding his in-service experiences.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches are currently rated as 30 percent disabling from July 13, 2015. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this condition.,The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with insomnia is currently rated as 50 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence supports an increased rating to 70 percent.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression, is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for residuals of a left pelvis fracture is denied.

The Board has determined that there are missing, pertinent records that must be obtained prior to making an informed decision regarding the service connection claims. These records include VA outpatient records from December 2001 to 2015 and any private treatment records related to the Veteran's claimed disabilities, particularly those from Mercy Hospital in the early 2000s.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, has been rated at 100% since February 11, 2013. The effective date for this rating is set to that date.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for depression and anxiety as secondary to recurring low back strain with degenerative disc disease, finding new and material evidence. Service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for depression with anxiety prior to March 3, 2017. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

Service connection granted for Parkinson's Disease due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,Secondary service connection granted for Lewy body dementia related to the Veteran's Parkinson's disease.,Service connection granted for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, linked to combat experiences in Vietnam.,An initial evaluation of 70 percent disability assigned for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU). The evidence did not support the Veteran's assertions that his current mental health symptoms were related to service or that he was unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, can be decided.

The Board has dismissed the claims for PTSD and earlier effective date for an unspecified anxiety disorder as the Veteran withdrew from these appeals in June 2018.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy of various extremities and psychiatric conditions. The claims for increased ratings are also being remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to have been incurred during service due to herbicide exposure.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is granted as it is at least as likely as not caused by his diabetes mellitus.,Service connection for a sleep disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression) are denied.,The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to have been incurred during service due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has referred the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, PTSD and schizophrenia to the RO for further action. The Veteran's claim is remanded due to incomplete medical records and a need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for verifying the Veteran's reported stressors and a need for further examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The cases are now remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and attempting to corroborate in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, has been reopened. The Board finds new and material evidence has been submitted and remands the case for further development including a VA examination.