Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons and bases in the May 2018 decision, specifically failing to discuss a July 1986 letter from the Veteran's mother regarding his claimed in-service stressor event. The Veteran is required to provide information for obtaining any outstanding records of treatment by VA or non-VA health care providers.

The appeal regarding service connection for sleep apnea and entitlement to TDIU is dismissed. The reduction of the rating for anxiety disorder from 50% to noncompensable, effective May 1, 2014, was improper, and the 50% rating is restored. Appeals regarding right wrist sprain, right knee disability, left knee disability (secondary to right knee), and a rating in excess of 50% for anxiety disorder are remanded.

The Board has decided to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD and remanded the claims for anxiety disorder and depressive disorder due to new evidence received since the final denial.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is being remanded for further development, including verification of in-service stressors and a psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for daily headaches, rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and thoracolumbar spine strain, and rating in excess of 50 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology and severity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted, with a rating of 70 percent effective from September 10, 2018.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a compensable rating for residuals of a left foot fracture of the second and third metatarsals. Additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims, including evidence related to personal assault during service.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, with no specific exposure basis provided and no rating assigned.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to joint pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), migraine headaches, sleep disturbance, muscle pain, and weight loss are remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the nature of his diagnoses and their relationship to service. The Board finds that a Gulf War Protocol examination is necessary to determine the current etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder are granted service connection. The Veteran is also granted service connection for sleep apnea, but the gastrointestinal disorder (irritable bowel syndrome) remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence and examination regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder (claimed as PTSD), is granted. The effective date of the grant of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is set at April 10, 2018. An initial rating of 30 percent for IBS is also granted.

Service connection and increased ratings granted for sleep apnea, anxiety, right and left total knee replacement residuals. Service connection for a left hip disability and back disability is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected psychiatric condition has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with stressor-related disorder is rated at a 70 percent rating effective October 22, 2013. The Veteran also has been granted SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder had its onset during his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete STRs and missing private treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant military and private medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety. The VA examiner found no evidence of a current psychiatric disorder related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for anxiety reaction with psychophysiological gastrointestinal reaction was denied, and his claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left strain with insertional cyst at patella, right knee strain is found to aggravate his depression. As a result, the claim for service connection for depression has been granted.