Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Board has denied service connection for a left knee disability and remanded the claim of service connection for acquired psychiatric disabilities (PTSD, unspecified anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder).

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression and generalized anxiety disorder, are secondary to his service-connected frostbite injuries of his bilateral hands. The decision grants this claim.

The Veteran's PTSD with GAD disability is rated at 50 percent since June 4, 2016. The claim for a TDIU was denied as the service-connected disabilities do not meet the initial threshold requirements.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus has been denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent is already assigned.,The Board has remanded several issues including service connection and ratings for various disabilities due to a duty to assist error prior to the May 2018 RAMP opt-in.,Issues include left eye occipital neuralgia, lower extremity sciatica, upper extremity radiculopathy, herpes simplex virus, adjustment disorder with anxiety/depression, migraine headaches, sleep apnea, stroke/vertebral artery dissection, thoracolumbar strain, cervical strain, and scars from hernia repair.,The Veteran's service connection claims for lower and upper extremity sciatica and radiculopathy are remanded due to a duty to assist error prior to the May 2018 RAMP opt-in. VA treatment records need to be obtained from non-VA providers.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between his current conditions and his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder, and PTSD. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on his symptoms.

The Board has determined that it lacks jurisdiction to review the Veteran's claim for service connection due to a procedural error in the submission of an appeal form.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and treatment.

The claim of service connection for PTSD has been reopened, and the appeal is remanded to obtain a new VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression due to unclear stressor verification and need for a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and rhinitis due to lack of a causal relationship between the conditions and military service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for an anxiety disorder prior to April 16, 2015 as the evidence did not reflect occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to psychiatric symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder are granted. The claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of unspecified left shoulder surgery is denied, but his claim for a mental health disorder, variously claimed as anxiety, insomnia and memory loss, is granted.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of left hip osteoarthritis as it was granted in a previous rating decision. The issue of secondary service connection for anxiety, depression, and PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is so severe that it prevents him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board dismissed the appeals for hearing loss, anxiety neurosis, shell fragment wound of the left leg and foot, and chronic otitis media as they are no longer relevant due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is being remanded due to the need for consideration of additional VA treatment records.