Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and major depressive disorders, is found to be at least as likely as not related to his service-connected disuse muscle atrophy of the biceps and triceps with chronic lateral epicondylitis. The cervical spine disability and left elbow disability are also found to be secondary to the service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for an anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's current anxiety disorder is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, insomnia and difficulty falling asleep/staying asleep, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board finds the evidence insufficient to determine the cause of death and requires further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records since August 2015. The August 2017 VA medical opinion is deemed inadequate due to lack of knowledge about PTSD and heart disease link.

The Board has granted service connection for depression and anxiety, finding that these conditions are etiologically linked to in-service events. Service connection for PTSD based on MST was not established due to lack of verified stressor.

The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent, and service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since April 2015, and the effective date for his TDIU is set at June 7, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, left hip disorders (claimed as arthritis), right hip disorders (claimed as arthritis), bilateral tinnitus, and a mental health disorder or PTSD. The decision found no credible evidence of in-service injuries or diseases that could lead to these conditions.

The claim for service connection for chloracne as due to herbicide exposure is denied. The claims for service connection for a mental condition, including an anxiety disorder and/or PTSD, also claimed as a substance abuse disorder; degenerative arthritis, including a lower back condition; and a 10 percent rating based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD was granted. The claim for service connection for an enlarged liver, secondary to diabetes mellitus, and for a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) is remanded.,The claim for service connection for insomnia, secondary to a psychiatric disorder, is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and alcohol dependence due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's overpayment of VA compensation benefits is waived due to the validity of the debt and the determination that recovery would be against equity and good conscience.

The Board has remanded the claims for examinations, medical opinions, and verification of the Veteran’s PTSD stressors due to the Veteran's no-show at scheduled appointments. The claims are now pending again.

The Board has granted service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder effective January 23, 2002. The Veteran's claim was initially filed in 2002 and the condition is considered to have manifested at that time.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder with anxiety is September 17, 2015.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for limitation of flexion and abduction of her left hip are denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD related to military sexual trauma, is granted. The claims for right and left knee DJD, bilateral hearing loss, upper back and neck conditions, infertility or miscarriage are not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

A rating of 30 percent, but no more, is granted for a gall bladder condition to include irritable bowel syndrome. The claim to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for major depressive disorder is granted. Entitlement to an acquired psychiatric disorder to include anxiety and major depressive disorder is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for right upper nerve damage as secondary to service-connected cervical condition is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for COPD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to COPD. Additional development is needed, such as obtaining medical records and a VA opinion on the nature and etiology of COPD.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity neuropathy and acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressive mood) are related to his service-connected vitamin B12 deficiency, but further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are aggravated by the service-connected condition.

The Veteran's MDD with anxiety disorder was rated at 70 percent, but the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of total occupational and social impairment. The appeal is remanded for further action.