Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Board has vacated the previous decisions and remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion on service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is being remanded for an updated VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability and obtain any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and depression have been rated at 30 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher 70 percent rating is warranted due to significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder and anxiety, finding that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of these conditions or establish their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for status post hairline fracture of the left medial patella and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus have been dismissed.,The Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for right knee, right hip, left hip, and acquired psychiatric disabilities are granted. The claims for nerve condition, left wrist disability, right wrist disability, arthritis, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, right knee disorder, and anxiety disorder have been granted. The decision also remanded the claims for PTSD, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand, and residuals of a muscle biopsy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of a lumbar spine disorder or an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety) related to his service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety is not rated higher than 70 percent, and the Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent. The Veteran was granted total disability rating for individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has determined that there is sufficient evidence to support these claims. The Veteran now has service connection for asthma, hypertension, anxiety (now claimed as an acquired psychiatric disorder), and headaches secondary to tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for anxiety disorder NOS is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood resulted in occupational and social impairment prior to April 21, 2018. From April 21, 2018, the disability resulted in total social and occupational impairment warranting a 100% rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depression, and for alcohol dependency as secondary to a service-connected disability. The VA must make further attempts to obtain medical records from Charter Hospital of Santa Theresa during the Veteran’s active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD and bipolar disorder. A new VA examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss, anxiety, and sleep apnea due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rectal cancer with bladder invasion (claimed as colon and bladder cancer) has been reopened, and the claim is granted.,Service connection is granted for depressive disorder (claimed as anxiety/depression).

The Veteran's claim for service connection of major depressive disorder with anxiety was granted effective December 2, 2013. The Board found that the earliest date of entitlement is December 2, 2013, which is the date VA received his first communication expressing an intent to file a claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The rating reduction from 20 percent to 10 percent for cervical spine strain with degenerative arthritis status post C2 fracture was improper, and the 20 percent rating is restored.,Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected a fracture of the right radial styloid is denied.,Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected hypertensive heart disease with left ventricular dysfunction and an ejection fraction greater than 50 percent but less than 7 METs resulting in relevant symptomatology is denied.,Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected anxiety is denied.,Entitlement to a compensable disability rating for service-connected right wrist scar is denied.

An effective date of June 13, 2014, is granted for the grant of a 70 percent rating for PTSD with anxiety disorder and depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, a back disability, and varicose veins of the right lower extremity have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further evaluation of the Veteran's PTSD claim, including obtaining VA treatment records from specific locations and evaluating whether the current diagnosis is related to service.