Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Veteran's TDIU claim for prior to July 12, 2016 was denied as his service-connected bipolar disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder did not render him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment.

Service connection for high cholesterol is denied. An earlier effective date for service connection for tinnitus than April 18, 2012 is denied.,The claims for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder with OCD is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and service connection for a torn rotator cuff have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) has not been established as there is no credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorder is remanded due to the need to verify stressors and provide an examination.

The Board denied service connection for a right foot disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, finding that the evidence did not establish a link to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further examination. The issues include PTSD, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, prostate hypertrophy, neoplasms of the thyroid, and neoplasms of the kidney.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea due to inadequate examination in previous decisions. The case is being returned for further development, including a new examination to determine if the Veteran's current mental health conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and anxiety are related to his service-connected PTSD, but the GERD and Bell’s Palsy are not. The Board has ordered a remand for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information on whether any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders are related to the Veteran's military service, including reported in-service assaults. The Veteran needs to provide more records and undergo a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder and insomnia prior to September 18, 2017, is denied. The claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent since September 18, 2017, is also denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his anxiety disorder should be remanded due to the possibility of an increase in severity.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and dermatitis remain unresolved.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, toe amputations, and an acquired psychiatric disability are all granted. The issues of service connection for upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, back disability, sleep apnea, hypertension, benign prostatic hypertrophy, kidney disability (hematuria), and GERD and tinea corporis remain pending.

The Board has found that the VA examinations provided to the Veteran were incomplete and remanded for further examination. The back disability claim is being remanded due to an incomplete VA examination, while the psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) claim is being remanded because of a lack of etiological analysis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, Lewy-Body dementia, a neurocognitive disorder (Parkinson's disease), and an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood are all granted. Service connection is established on the basis of herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The claim for PTSD was denied.

The Board has dismissed the claim for nonservice connected pension benefits and has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep walking and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depression and anxiety).

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder has been granted a rating of 70 percent, effective from October 27, 2005. A total disability rating for unemployability due to service-connected disability is also granted.

The Board denied the reopening of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that the submitted evidence did not show aggravation beyond normal progression during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety) is now pending again.