Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Mood Disorder, are not related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety, is related to service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression, as well as alcohol abuse. The Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied, and his claim for TDIU was granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting opinions regarding whether anxiety contributed to the Veteran's cause of death. The case is being sent back for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected tinnitus is denied as the disability has already been rated at its maximum under the applicable schedular criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety and PTSD, has been reopened. The Board has ordered the VA to attempt to verify the Veteran's in-service stressors and schedule him for a VA examination if they are corroborated.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, increased ratings for left foot and hand disabilities, and TDIU due to unresolved issues related to medical opinions and examination findings.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current level of impairment.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and opinion regarding service connection for fibromyalgia, back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than anxiety.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and anxiety disorder) and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to lack of substantial compliance with previous development requests.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was granted service connection. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 29, 2019, and the initial 10 percent rating from March 20, 2019, were also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's GAD has been granted an initial rating of 50% from October 29, 2010 to July 12, 2017 and a higher rating of not more than 70% since July 13, 2017. The effective date for service connection remains November 26, 2004.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including anxiety, hip and knee disabilities, and hypothyroidism, have rendered her in need of regular aid and attendance due to her functional impairments. The Board has granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder due to incomplete development of records and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination to assess her employability given her service-connected disabilities prior to April 29, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for thoracic outlet syndrome and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety, due to insufficient evidence in some cases. The Veteran's TOS may have preexisted service but was not aggravated by it. The MST claim is also being addressed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that his symptoms are related to his military service and he meets all three elements of a valid PTSD claim.