Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, residuals of heat stroke, anxiety/depression, and Crohn’s disease due to lack of service treatment records and need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for various conditions, including hypertension, nasal disability, chronic epididymitis, psychomotor epilepsy, bilateral eustachian tube dysfunction, deviated nasal septum, bilateral hallux rigidus, Achilles tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis, anxiety disorder NOS, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and adjustment disorder. The Veteran's claims for service connection have also been granted for right ankle strain, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, arthritis, left ankle strain, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, osteochondritis dissecans, and arthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, alcohol abuse, and PTSD due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, bilateral ankle, and bilateral knee disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied as there is no current diagnosis. The Veteran's claimed psychiatric symptoms were not found during the VA examination.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with insomnia is granted a 70 percent disability rating effective June 11, 2015. The decision also grants a July 25, 2013 effective date for the grant of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal includes a request for an increased rating for right patellofemoral syndrome and a request for an earlier effective date for service connection. The Board has determined that the issues are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding medical questions and a need for further examination. The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss disability may have aggravated his acquired psychological disabilities, including PTSD and anxiety.

Service connection for hypertension is granted as secondary to service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.,A rating of 70 percent, but no higher, for service-connected anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder is granted effective December 8, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The issues include hypertension, liver disability, gastroenteritis, gout, arthralgia, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as eating disorder, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder) due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a seizure disorder and an acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety disorder and depressive disorder) due to insufficient competent medical evidence.

The Veteran's disability rating for anxiety disorder, previously evaluated as PTSD, was restored to a 50% rating effective June 1, 2010.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss of the right ear, an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and PTSD), and low back disability are all granted. However, a rating in excess of 10 percent is denied for his low back disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD, cervical disorder, left ear hearing loss, and knee disorders. The Veteran's mental health records need to be obtained, as well as additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD with symptoms of depression and anxiety is being remanded for a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition. Additionally, the TDIU claim is also being remanded due to lack of updated VA treatment records and insufficient work history information.

The Veteran's other specified anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety occurring more days than not, is granted a 100% rating for the entire appeal period. The issue of entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as moot.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues regarding service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder and determining whether the Veteran is a 'Veteran' under 38 U.S.C. § 101(2). The appeal will be further developed with respect to these matters.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including an updated VA examination to assess the severity of his generalized anxiety disorder and a determination on whether he is unemployable due to this condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder with panic attacks and depression) was productive of a disability picture that more nearly approximated considerably impaired ability to establish or maintain effective relationships with people prior to November 7, 1996. The Board granted an initial 50 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder from July 16, 1996.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression), dermatophytosis of the left foot, and dermatophytosis of the right foot.