Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus has been withdrawn.,His claim for an increased rating for residuals of pilonidal cystectomy with painful scar is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating than 10 percent.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as PTSD, is granted a rating of 50 percent. The Veteran's tinnitus and TDIU claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in determining whether there was a need for a medical examination. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, are now subject to further review.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of March 16, 2016 for service connection due to PTSD with anxiety, alcohol use disorder in remission and cocaine abuse in sustained remission. The decision found that the earliest possible effective date was March 16, 2016, which is later than when entitlement arose.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and evaluation, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as the evidence did not support his contention that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Veteran's abdominal scarring and shin splints were denied service connection. The Veteran's lumbar strain, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and left leg shin splints with moderate knee disability are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, generalized anxiety disorder with major depression prior to April 11, 2016, sleep apnea, GERD, right wrist sprain with avascular necrosis, status post removal of necrotic bone, psoriasis, diabetes, right ankle sprain, right knee disorder, right foot disorder, bilateral leg disorder, chest disorder, residuals of head injury including scar, and vocal chords disorder are all remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the grant of service connection for generalized anxiety disorder was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, thus restoring it.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left ear sensorineural hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, right knee degenerative joint disease (right knee disability), obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted. The Veteran is now receiving a 10% rating for his allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's claim for higher staged initial ratings for his chronic adjustment disorder was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency and duration of manifestations did not meet the criteria for a staged initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to November 7, 1996; 30 percent from November 7, 1996 through April 15, 2019; or 50 percent from April 16, 2019.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder is granted due to the occurrence of a military sexual trauma (MST) during active service. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise on whether the current acquired psychiatric disorders are related to the in-service personal assault stressor.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and need for a VA addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board dismissed all appeals due to the Veteran's death. No service connection decisions were made.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired mental disorder other than PTSD, finding that the evidence did not support a link between current symptoms and active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and remanded it for further development. The claims for increased ratings for generalized anxiety disorder and cervical strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine are also remanded.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depressed mood and anxiety is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, major depression, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and generalized anxiety disorder based on credible supporting evidence that corroborates the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety and additional evidence to be considered. The TDIU claim has also been added due to its connection to the increased rating claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and major depressive disorder. Additional development is needed to confirm stressor events and obtain relevant medical records.