Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting diagnoses of psychiatric disorders and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's dysthymic and generalized anxiety disorders were at worst manifest by symptoms productive of functional impairment most comparable to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to December 4, 2015.,For the rating period from December 4, 2015, the Veteran’s dysthymic and generalized anxiety disorders were at worst manifest by symptoms productive of an occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claim to reopen her previously denied PTSD claim was received on January 25, 2012. The effective date for the grant of service connection for anxiety disorder (claimed as PTSD) is set at the date of receipt of her claim to reopen.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and a psychiatric disability, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood due to insufficient evidence on record.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed anxiety disorder. The Veteran needs to provide medical records and a new examination is required.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection are denied.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed depressive disorder and anxiety disorder.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and Depression should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the diagnosis of PTSD and its relationship to military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to insufficient evidence from previous examinations conducted over five years ago. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are causing total social and occupational impairment, and moderately severe or severe impairment in his heels.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and/or depression is granted. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims. However, the issue of whether these conditions are related to service or a service-connected disability remains unresolved.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis status post-surgery is granted a 30 percent evaluation, effective from the entire appeal period. The Veteran’s benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and hypertension are denied evaluations greater than 10 percent. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left upper extremity (prior to October 15, 2018) is granted a 30 percent evaluation, effective from that date. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity (prior to October 15, 2018) and unspecified anxiety disorder with other specified insomnia are denied evaluations greater than 20 percent.

The Veteran's dysthymic disorder with anxiety is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, is related to his service-connected shoulder injuries and events during active duty. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an examination to determine if any of the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to his military service. The issues include whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of depression, and entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining SSA records. The issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for anxiety disorder NOS and entitlement to TDIU are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service, including snoring and witnessed apneas during service in 1989, and his complaint of knee pain and sleep difficulties in November 1993. The examiner must also opine on whether the left knee disability aggravates or contributes to obesity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability related to his service. The claim for mood disorder was reopened due to new evidence showing the onset of mental health issues during service.,Service connection for hypertension, skin cancer, and mood disorders were all denied.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and headaches have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 20, 2017. The Board has granted the TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination and additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and notifying the Veteran of his rights regarding PTSD claims based on in-service personal assault.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, MDD, and GAD, as well as an aspirin allergy. Service connection for neurobehavioral effects secondary to exposure to Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water is denied.