Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service connection for chronic prostatitis, anxiety disorder, right knee strain, left knee strain, allergic rhinitis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus has been granted. The rating for anxiety disorder remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted an initial rating of 70 percent, effective June 29, 2015. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including kidney bypass, porphyria cutanea tarda, diabetes mellitus, gout, arthritis of the cervical spine, spinal stenosis, and hypertension. The Veteran was granted service connection for a heart disability due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam, and for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD, anxiety, depression).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder, as well as the TDIU claim due to outstanding records needing to be obtained and associated with the claims file. The Veteran's reports of symptomatology need to be considered during these examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of VA examination records and treatment history, which are necessary for an accurate determination of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's claim will be further evaluated after these records have been obtained.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical examination regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran submitted new and material evidence concerning a diagnosis of anxiety and single incident major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her psychiatric disability is granted, and the case is remanded to determine if she is entitled to an increased rating.,Service connection for fibromyalgia as secondary to service-connected rhabdomyolysis is granted. The case is also remanded to assess whether the Veteran is entitled to a higher rating.

The Board dismissed all appeals because the Veteran's representative requested that all pending appeals be withdrawn prior to a decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient development and consideration of evidence, particularly regarding his neck and back disabilities as well as secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for psychiatric disability, thyroid disorder, blood disorder, digestive disorder, cardiovascular disorder, and respiratory disorder due to incomplete file rebuilding efforts.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as anxiety disorder, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise with the claim and satisfied that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his reported stressor from Vietnam.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome and acquired psychiatric disorders (mood disorder and anxiety disorder) have been granted service connection.,Initial disability ratings for left knee patellofemoral syndrome with painful motion during flexion and instability remain denied.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder has rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, consistent with his background as a welder and pipefitter. The Board granted total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The appeal for service connection for the listed conditions is dismissed.

The Veteran's initial claim for a TBI rating was granted at 10 percent prior to June 21, 2016. From that date, the Veteran's TBI is rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board denied an increased rating beyond 10 percent and dismissed the TDIU claim as moot due to his service-connected grand mal seizures. SMC at the housebound rate was also denied prior to August 3, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of PTSD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder are at least as likely as not related to his military service, including his experiences guarding a nuclear weapons site. The decision grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids due to incomplete records, including service personnel records and updated VA and private treatment records. The Veteran will need a psychiatric examination to determine if his current psychiatric conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the April 2007 rating decision. The decision was based on the correct legal standard at that time and supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service experiences and their connection to his current psychiatric disabilities. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination.