Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Board has granted the motion for reconsideration and vacated its previous decision denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and anxiety. The new evidence submitted by the Veteran's representative was considered in this reconsideration.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected migraine headaches has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety with sleep disturbance and major depressive disorder have been remanded.

The Veteran's depression with sleep disorder and anxiety had its onset in service, and the Board granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for headaches, coronary artery disease, generalized anxiety disorder, and hypertension have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not submit a claim or new and material evidence within one year of the relevant decisions.,No indication of an attempt to reopen prior claims was found by the Board.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure and the current disability is not related to service.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety, is denied as there is no evidence that these conditions had their onset during service or are otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder was denied. The Board found that the severity of the Veteran’s anxiety most closely approximated a 70 percent disability rating, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of evidence of gross impairment in thought processes or communication, persistent delusions or hallucinations, grossly inappropriate behavior, persistent danger of hurting self or others, or intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied as there is no evidence showing he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically whether it is related to service or his service-connected right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's back disorder was granted service connection. The remaining claims for various other disorders were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic pain, a back disability, headaches, sciatica, and depression and anxiety as secondary to Legg Perthes disease due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for anxiety and sleep apnea due to their inextricability with the main issue, which is also being remanded. The Veteran's anxiety claim will be addressed first.

The Veteran's initial rating for tinnitus has been dismissed. An initial compensable rating of 10% has been granted for left thumb degenerative arthritis with flexor tendinitis.,Service connection claims for asthma, depression and anxiety, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, hearing loss, and immunoglobulin A nephropathy have all been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and PTSD, finding that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of such disorders.

The Board has expanded the scope of the Veteran's service connection claim to include all currently-diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood. The Veteran contends that his acquired psychiatric disorder is related to stressful and traumatic events he experienced while deployed in Iraq. However, the VA examiner found no diagnosis of PTSD but did diagnose major depressive disorder. The Board finds the January 2017 medical opinion inadequate and orders a new examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of medical opinions and treatment records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for traumatic brain injury, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety and depression).

The Board has denied service connection for gastrointestinal disorders, GERD, and skin disorder due to exposure to environmental hazards during Persian Gulf War service. The Veteran's claims of chronic joint pain and acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety disorder and PTSD) are also remanded.,Service connection is not granted for gastrointestinal disorders other than GERD, GERD, or skin disorder as they are not related to military service.

The Board has remanded several of the Veteran's claims due to new evidence not previously reviewed by the RO.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's sleep impairment is caused by a stand-alone sleep disorder or a psychiatric disorder. A VA examination is needed to clarify this point.

The Veteran's application to re-open his claim for service connection for history of back injury is granted. Service connection for a history of back injury is denied. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability evaluation in excess of 50 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with anxiety, generalized anxiety and PTSD, was denied. The case is remanded due to the need for further review.