Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation and determination of the merits of various service connection claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and PTSD, finding that there is no evidence of in-service stressors or diagnoses related to service.

The Veteran is seeking Section 1151 compensation for various conditions resulting from a pancreatectomy and related surgeries performed by VA. The Board has determined that additional disability was caused, but the specific cause of this disability (caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA) needs to be clarified.,The Veteran is also seeking Section 1151 compensation for PTSD, anxiety, and depression as a result of the pancreatectomy. The Board has determined that additional disability was caused, but the specific cause (caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA) needs to be clarified.

The Board has denied service connection for prostate gland injuries and traumatic brain injury, and remanded the issues of service connection for anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and depression, as well as evaluation greater than 10 percent for pityriasis versicolor. The Veteran is also required to provide new evidence to reopen his claim for service connection for depressive disorder.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a mental health condition to include anxiety should be remanded due to conflicting opinions and need for additional examination.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability due to military sexual trauma (MST), including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, and Major depressive disorder (MDD). The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for major depression with anxiety, as well as her claims for effective date prior to January 13, 2014 and TDIU, were all denied.

The Board dismissed all the claims due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an examination, as it is unclear whether the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including whole body arthritis, a right arm condition, a neck condition, a left leg condition, a right foot condition, a sleep disorder, and anxiety. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder are being remanded for further evaluation, including a retrospective medical opinion on the severity of his disabilities prior to November 13, 2018. The TDIU issue is also being remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action on several issues, including higher disability ratings and effective dates.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for his psychiatric disorder has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as they only approximated a 70 percent degree of severity.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected asthma with a restrictive component caused or aggravated his generalized anxiety disorder, and thus grants service connection for this condition as secondary to his asthma.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety is currently rated at 10 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms that decrease work efficiency during periods of significant stress. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as her condition has improved with medication.,The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 10 percent, reflecting characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once every two months over the last several months.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for depression and anxiety, as well as service connection for low back and hip disorders secondary to his service-connected bilateral foot and knee disabilities have been remanded due to the Veteran's failure to cooperate with scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's reported stressor and conflicting medical opinions on his psychiatric diagnoses. The Veteran is required to provide additional information about a claimed in-service stressor, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of a pulmonary embolism, asthma, right leg vascular condition, left leg vascular condition, high blood pressure, generalized degenerative joint disease, and allergies, bronchitis, and sinusitis have been withdrawn.,Service connection has been granted for tinnitus. The Board found that the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service noise exposure were credible and consistent with his service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and alcohol dependence. The Board also remanded his claims for increased evaluations for bilateral wrist CTS.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD with anxiety and depression) and a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss.