Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, are due to his in-service combat exposures. Therefore, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, and Anxiety due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence being added to the record. The Veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder will be reconsidered by the AOJ.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder prior to December 21, 2018 resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. However, the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment sufficient to warrant a higher rating, and that the Veteran had not provided necessary information to support her claim for TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung condition, to include the residuals of a collapsed lung. The Veteran was not found to have any current respiratory disability that is related to her active military service.,The Board also denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for blood clots. There is no evidence in the record showing that she has had a blood clot-related disability during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to the unavailability of his service treatment records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of compliance with previous remand directives regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and his claimed alcohol abuse and cocaine dependence disorders. The case is now on hold for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging an addendum opinion from a suitable examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder has worsened, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and GAD, due to combat exposure during military service. A new VA examination is needed to determine if his current psychiatric disabilities are related to his in-service stressors.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for an anxiety disorder was granted. The claims for PTSD, depressive disorder, alcohol abuse disorder, and cannabis use disorder were denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and review of the Veteran's psychiatric claims, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a new examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his military service in Southwest Asia. The claims will be reconsidered after additional research is conducted.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychological disorders examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is related to service or her right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and dysthymia/depressive and anxiety disorders due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current psychiatric conditions as secondary to military sexual assault.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder, finding that the Veteran's psychiatric disability had its onset in service.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions including bilateral metatarsalgia, right knee chondromalacia patella and degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, major depression, anxiety, GERD, hiatal hernia, IBS, gastroenteritis, and sleep apnea. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions began during active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and sleep apnea due to potential in-service stressors during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Additional development is needed to verify these stressors and obtain a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to support his claims of lumbar back disability secondary to leg disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim for GERD is also granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), lumbar back disability secondary to leg disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all granted.

The Veteran's lung disorder and anxiety disorder claims have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,Left knee, back, bilateral wrist, and bilateral shoulder disabilities are remanded for further examination.