Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding service connection for cysts on spine, anxiety, and gout.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his acquired psychiatric condition, service connection for a right wrist condition, respiratory disorder, allergies, and gastrointestinal disorder. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine the current severity of his psychiatric disability, nature and etiology of his right wrist condition, respiratory and sinus conditions, and whether his ulcerative proctitis is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no evidence to suggest a relationship between his current unspecified personality disorder and service.

The Veteran's tinnitus, generalized anxiety disorder and initial insomnia were found to have onset in service. Service connection was granted for these conditions. The Veteran's hypopigmented lesions, GERD, and lumbar strain are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his generalized anxiety disorder is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for anxiety disorder, NOS was denied as it is not factually ascertainable that his condition warranted a 30 percent disability rating prior to March 28, 2014.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disability manifested by nervousness and depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, chest pain, a heart disability, hypertension, and headaches. The preponderance of the evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to care for his daily needs, requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board finds that he needed assistance with all activities of daily living due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that discontinuance of VR&E services based on a negative feasibility determination was proper due to the Veteran's significant physical health issues and extensive limitations in his activities. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD was denied in October 2017, and new evidence has not been received to reopen the claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychological condition (to include anxiety and depression) is reopened. The Board finds that the newly submitted evidence raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied in October 2017, and new evidence has not been received to reopen the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded three of the four issues on appeal due to the need for additional VA examinations and the need to obtain outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's anxiety disorder, lumbar spine disability, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are all being examined again.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, neck condition, low back condition, and left shoulder condition due to insufficient evidence of current disabilities or connections to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss due to additional development being required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for service-connected PTSD and for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The case requires further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's PTSD and other diagnosed mental health disorders.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened and granted for gastroenteritis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and anxiety), hypertension, allergic rhinitis, and OSA. Service connection was also granted for OSA as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of ischemic heart disease, liver cancer, psychiatric disorders (including anxiety and depression), and hearing loss have been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to schedule a new VA examination for hearing loss.