Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and insomnia has been reopened, but the Board is remanding the case to obtain a VA examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is related to active service. The case is also being remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD with associated depression and anxiety, is granted due to the evidence showing a link between her in-service stressor and current symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, coronary artery disease, and prostate cancer has been dismissed. The issue of service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder is dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing from appellate status prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is rated at 30% prior to November 6, 2013, and at 50% from that date. The Board has granted a 70% rating for the period since November 6, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for further verification of her exposure to herbicide agents and/or chemicals at Fort McClellan. The AOJ will conduct additional development, including potential VA medical examinations and nexus opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the lack of VA or private treatment records. The Board will attempt to obtain these records and then readjudicate the cases.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding his mental health conditions.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, diagnosed as PTSD, has been rated at 50 percent since the initial rating decision. The Board found that her symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions and their relationship to service. The Veteran is requested to provide additional information or evidence.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and reopening of a previously denied tuberculin reaction claim were all denied. The adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety was rated at 30% prior to May 19, 2015, and 50% thereafter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder, claimed as mental disorder, is related to his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD, adjustment disorder, and mixed anxiety has been remanded due to a duty to assist error. His SSA records are needed for the VA to properly assess his claim.

The Board has determined that there is no clear and unmistakable error in the February 2010 rating decision that granted a separate 10 percent rating for dizziness as a residual of TBI. The appeal to restore this rating is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, sleep disorder, and headaches are being reviewed again.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities. Service connection was granted for anxiety.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the earliest date as of which it is factually ascertainable that an increase in disability had occurred was April 1, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various mental health conditions due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran was receiving Supplemental Security Income from Social Security Administration, but VA did not attempt to obtain his SSA records.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was submitted to warrant readjudication of the claim for service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's headaches are remanded due to incomplete examination, and his psychiatric disability claims (including PTSD) are also remanded as there is a need for additional development regarding stressor verification.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The evidence now shows that the Veteran engaged in combat and experienced stressors related to fear of hostile military activity, which supports a diagnosis of PTSD. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claim for a higher disability rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder.