Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to inextricably intertwined issues, including a claim for service connection for psychiatric disability. The TDIU issue is now more accurately characterized as TDIU prior to January 22, 2019 and after July 1, 2020.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board also remanded the issue of a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the period from March 19, 2012, to August 1, 2018, for service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder with depressive disorder, is granted. The claim of increased disability rating for service-connected left palm laceration prior to July 10, 2020, and greater than 10 percent thereafter, is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development and adjudication are necessary before the claim on appeal can be adjudicated. The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded to allow for an addendum opinion addressing whether his OSA is caused or aggravated by his service-connected bronchial asthma and/or anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified.

The Board has decided that remand is required for an addendum opinion addressing direct and secondary service connection for the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, mood disorder, and depression. The examiner should determine if any current psychiatric disorder is related to service and whether it was aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and no service connection or rating decisions are made.

The Veteran's claim for additional SMC on account of being housebound is dismissed because he is already receiving SMC at the aid and attendance rate, which provides a greater benefit.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and the unavailability of his service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between service-connected physical disabilities and the claimed psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions in the VA examination report and additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for a new VA examination. The Veteran's service connection claim is related to his time in Vietnam, but there are issues with verifying his in-service stressor.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has decided to remand this case due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot condition due to lack of evidence showing aggravation during service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded as there are no medical opinions regarding the etiology or current diagnoses.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent from March 21, 2011 to April 13, 2015.,The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from March 21, 2011 to June 13, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (excluding PTSD) is denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis and insufficient link between the claimed in-service stressor and current symptoms.,Service connection for PTSD is denied. The Veteran did not meet all criteria, including credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor actually occurred.,Service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, cervical degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and bilateral hip disability are all denied.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, was not incurred or aggravated during service. The Board found clear and unmistakable evidence that the preexisting condition existed prior to service.,The Veteran’s alcohol use disorder is considered a result of his own willful misconduct and was not caused by military service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 6, 2014 for the grant of service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder was denied.,Service connection for varicose veins and gallbladder disorder were also denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychological disorder, including anxiety, should be remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between his in-service anxiety and current schizophrenia.