Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders and their relationship to his in-service experiences. The VA is instructed to obtain new evidence and provide a comprehensive examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder and anxiety, are at least as likely as not secondary to her service-connected right wrist disability. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has decided to remand two issues: an increased disability rating for anxiety disorder and a service connection claim for hearing loss of the left ear. The Veteran needs to provide updated VA treatment records, undergo a VA examination for his anxiety disorder, and have his hearing loss evaluated by a VA audiologist.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant Federal records and scheduling a VA mental health examination.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than June 30, 2015, for service connection were denied. The appeals for the remaining issues have been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of sleep disorder, anxiety disorder, and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the Veteran's PTSD and its relationship to service, as well as whether her psychiatric disorders are related to her service-connected heart condition.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, anxiety and panic disorder, and a back disorder. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for further medical examinations and evaluations, particularly regarding his psychiatric conditions, hearing loss, vertigo, low back disorder, and fungal infection of the toes. The Board will provide a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran is seeking evidence from sources other than his service records to support his claim of military sexual trauma leading to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The examiner is asked to determine if these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a disability evaluation of 70 percent, effective June 14, 2016. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also granted beginning on the same date.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied.,The Veteran's claim of CUE in a September 1989 rating decision denying entitlement to service connection for nervous condition (claimed as mental problems with flashbacks, nightmares and sleep difficulties) is denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD due to MST, depression and anxiety, residuals of left knee chipped patella, and right knee condition are all granted as service connected.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for unspecified anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder is granted at a 70 percent level, but no higher. The appeal regarding PTSD, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, left knee strain, and TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's treatment at TMC was for a medical emergency and VA approved payment or reimbursement for the initial treatment. However, due to his refusal of transfer to a VA facility, VA denied further reimbursement from June 29, 2017 through July 4, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood has been granted a disability rating of 70 percent, effective from February 22, 2013.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with psychological gastrointestinal reaction and mild anxiety is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that additional development is needed to determine if a higher rating is warranted. The TDIU issue is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD claim.