Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected GAD and her TDIU claim are being remanded due to the need for additional records, including SSA disability benefits records and VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD. The issue is now on the merits, and further investigation into the stressors and medical opinions is required.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for TDIU due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The PTSD claim is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and non-VA medical records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as anxiety disorder, is remanded due to insufficient evidence and a need for another examination.

The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder is granted as service connected, with no specific exposure basis provided.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder was denied because the Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was untimely filed, more than one year after he was notified of the denial in September 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests to reopen his previously denied claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, benign familial essential tremor of the bilateral upper extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD. The newly received evidence did not support reopening any of these claims.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple disabilities, including head injuries and knee issues. The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly assess the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder. The Veteran's claim is recharacterized as such.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to schedule a VA examination, and another attempt must be made to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for PTSD service connection is denied. The case is remanded to obtain VA and private treatment records, consider extraschedular considerations, and readjudicate the issues of a higher initial evaluation for PTSD and TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, left knee disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety and depression), and a personality disorder. The decision found that there was no evidence of current disabilities or chronic conditions related to service.,Service connection cannot be established as the preponderance of the evidence does not support the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and excoriation disorder, are related to his service, particularly his enuresis and bullying experiences. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability is rated at 70 percent, but no greater, effective June 26, 1986. The appeal for OSA and a higher initial rating for schizophrenia with depression and anxiety remains pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder, are granted as service connection is established based on the current medical diagnosis and the occurrence of a recognized in-service stressor.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and a left knee disability as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder with anxiety, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate from January 1, 2007 to April 22, 2008 is denied because he does not meet the criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s). He does not have a single disability rated as 100 percent disabling and is not substantially confined to his house due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's chronic migraine headaches are rated at 50% prior to January 31, 2017. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to February 24, 2014, or due solely to a single service-connected disability from February 24, 2014, to January 9, 2017, and after March 1, 2018.