Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Depressive Disorder and an earlier effective date for a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability are being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records, information regarding the qualifications of certain examiners, and further development of the psychiatric increased rating claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that his current psychiatric conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for verifying stressor events in service and further examination is needed to determine if any psychiatric conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been granted for tinnitus, and the issues of service connection for arthritis, asthma, high cholesterol, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), diverticulitis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have also been granted. The claims for hearing loss and bilateral hands/low back arthritis are still pending.

The Veteran's vertigo is granted as service connected due to exposure to ototoxic substances during service. The claims for acquired psychiatric disorders and ED are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of a bilateral achilles tendon disability is being remanded as there was no current diagnosis at his last examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of a stomach disability is being remanded due to lack of current diagnosis and possible secondary service connection.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of a blackout disability is being remanded due to incomplete VA examination results.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims that are also being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss, unspecified anxiety disorder, and pseudofolliculitis barbae disabilities is being remanded.

The claim for reopening Major Depression was granted, but the claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) remains denied.

The claim for service connection for PTSD with Major Depression and Anxiety Disorder was reopened, but the Board has remanded the issue due to insufficient evidence. The cause of death claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, specifically major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, requires the regular aid and attendance of another person as a result of his condition. The Board has granted SMP based on this need.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks, insomnia disorder and persistent depressive disorder. The decision is based on evidence showing that the weight gain and obesity resulting from the service-connected mental health conditions are substantial factors in causing the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.

Your initial evaluations for anxiety disorder and depressive disorder have been granted at a 70 percent rating, effective December 19, 2013. Your TDIU rating prior to that date has also been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, anxiety and panic attacks are reopened. The claim for headaches is denied. The Board has ordered a remand to determine the current nature and etiology of his psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent from April 2, 2012 to December 10, 2019 and denied for a rating in excess of 70 percent since December 10, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder and entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. A new VA examination is needed to assess the severity of the Veteran's psychiatric condition, including its impact on his employment.

The Board denied service connection for lower back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety), high blood pressure, heart disability, and poor blood circulation. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of a current disability related to active service.,There is no medical opinion linking any of the conditions to service.

An effective date of January 23, 2015 for the grant of service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy is granted.,Effective dates earlier than June 27, 2016 are denied for the grants of service connection for tension headaches, TBI, tinnitus, mixed anxiety depressive disorder, left upper extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease.,The Veteran's December 31, 2015 claim referenced neurological damage which should have been recognized as claims including TBI and the nerve damage in his bilateral shoulders. However, no head injury nor left shoulder neurological damage was mentioned.

The Board has determined that additional efforts should be made to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, and whether they are related to his in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right-hand burn residuals, as well as their impact on his occupational and daily functioning. The claims are not about service connection but rather about rating determinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of TBI, initial compensable evaluation for anxiety disorder prior to March 2, 2011, and an evaluation of 30 percent for anxiety disorder beginning March 2, 2011 are denied. The claim for a higher initial evaluation for lumbosacral strain is also denied.