Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that further development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for fibromyalgia, irritable colon syndrome, anxiety disorder, and sleep apnea. The matter of a compensable rating for dermatitis is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable throughout the appeal period, and his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Board has decided that the case needs to be returned for further evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder, including distinguishing its symptoms from other diagnoses.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic adjustment disorder with anxiety and insomnia is currently rated at 30 percent, which the Board finds insufficient to warrant a higher rating based on his symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since March 5, 2009. The rating is granted for the period from March 5, 2009 to August 27, 2019.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, TDIU, and increased rating for lumbar spine disability due to incomplete development and need for further medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability is reopened, and the case is remanded to determine if his current diagnoses are related to service or service-connected conditions. The hearing loss claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include PTSD, teeth grinding, right arm carpal tunnel syndrome, back, neck, shoulder, and knee disorders, as well as a skin disorder.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, unspecified, with depressed mood and alcohol use disorder was granted a 50% disability rating prior to December 12, 2019. From December 12, 2019, the rating remains at 70%. The decision is based on his occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety due to a lack of current diagnoses that meet DSM-V criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and insufficient evidence to establish service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depressive disorders. The Veteran's mental health symptoms are linked to military service but there is no direct evidence of a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability is not service-connected. The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD with anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, panic disorder, alcohol abuse, and cocaine abuse prior to March 4, 2017, as the symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as anxiety disorder, is granted service connection.,Service connection for migraine headaches is granted based on new and material evidence.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted a rating of 10% from April 1, 2013 to August 20, 2014. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorder is related to military service. The Veteran's personnel records show he served in Iraq from April 2002 to September 2002.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed as anxiety, depression, mood disorder, unspecified trauma- and stressor-related disorder, and unspecified bipolar-related disorder is granted. Service connection for substance abuse disorders (including methamphetamine and opioid use disorders and substance induced psychosis) secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disabilities is also granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression with anxiety and memory loss, should be remanded due to failure to report for a VA examination. The Veteran must be scheduled for a new medical examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as anxiety and depression) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically anxiety disorder. The decision found that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of aggravation by any period of active service.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran does not have PTSD, depressive disorder, or an anxiety disorder. The Board also found no evidence of polysubstance dependency being secondary to any service-connected condition.