Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, alcohol use disorder, and unspecified psychosis are granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety due to a general medical condition and dyssomnia NOS, but has remanded the issues of service connection for uterine fibroid cysts and stomach problems.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including an anxiety disorder and depressive disorders due to incomplete development of records from the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his generalized anxiety disorder, finding that the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity as required for a higher rating.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood was incurred during his period of active service, leading to a grant of service connection effective September 22, 2007.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and L4-5 disk herniation have been rated at the maximum available disability ratings, with no further increase granted. The right lower extremity radiculopathy has also been rated at its maximum.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service, including in-service stressor events. The claim is not about service connection under the PACT Act or other presumptive conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for updated mental health records. The Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are being evaluated further.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including ED, headaches, a sleeping condition, acid reflux, hepatitis C, and a left shoulder injury. The decision is final as no substantive appeal was filed within the required time frame.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds no evidence to support a higher rating. The claims for GAD, agoraphobia, and OCD are denied as there is no diagnosis of these conditions in the medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, are related to his active service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric and physical conditions, make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim for residuals of fainting spells, including anxiety, heart condition, or epilepsy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been denied. The Board found that there was no in-service stressor and the current disability is not related to service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for Posttraumatic Headaches, Neuropsychiatric Disorder (with headaches), Anxiety, Residuals of TBI with Memory Loss, Right Eye Condition, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Post Traumatic Headaches with Dizzy Spells/Syncope (claimed as Migraines and Vertigo), Keloid Scars, and Tinnitus have been reopened. However, the claims for service connection for these conditions remain pending.

The Veteran's chronic adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression is currently rated at 50 percent, effective September 17, 2010. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a heat injury, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and anxiety), and migraine headaches. The evidence does not support finding that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder, from November 1, 2018 to August 26, 2019, and a greater than 70 percent rating thereafter, was dismissed due to the absence of a substantive appeal.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, so the issue is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeals for an earlier effective date and increased ratings for his acquired psychiatric disability have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of representation by the Veteran's authorized representative.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and schizophrenia with anxiety, finding that there is no evidence of these conditions in service or within the first year after service. The Veteran's claims were based on his belief that he developed these conditions during service, but the medical records do not support this claim.