Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an abdominal scar, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD, depression, and anxiety), and COPD due to conflicting evidence and lack of verification of claimed stressors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and the need to obtain additional medical records. The issues include psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, MDD, GAD, and fibromyalgia; and joint pain, specifically fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with PTSD and anxiety is currently rated at 30 percent, effective July 14, 2014 to December 8, 2015.,A rating of 50 percent for the period beginning December 9, 2015 has been granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a back disability, finding that there is not enough evidence to support these claims. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a skin disability manifested by multiple lipomas (now claimed as soft tissue sarcoma), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (generalized anxiety disorder, now claimed as PTSD). However, these claims are still pending because the RO needs to obtain updated VA treatment records and provide a VA examination to determine if there is a causal relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient rationale in previous opinions and potential new evidence from a June 2019 VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various psychiatric conditions, bilateral plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, degenerative arthritis of the spine, right ankle condition, and bilateral hand degenerative arthritis have all been denied. The Board found that there was insufficient evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, anxiety (acquired psychiatric disorder), right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, tinnitus, and headache disorder have all been denied. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to active duty service.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, anxiety (acquired psychiatric disorder), right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, tinnitus, and headache disorder are all denied. The evidence does not show current disabilities or a link to active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes PTSD and alcohol use disorder, is now rated at 70 percent disabling from October 21, 2019. This rating reflects the significant impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability is granted, with the diagnosis of PTSD being linked to in-service trauma. The Board finds that all elements of service connection have been satisfied.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a heart condition, but further development is needed as the Veteran has not been provided with a VA examination to evaluate these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder NOS, depressive disorder NOS, PTSD, and MDD, is found to be as likely as not attributable to an in-service military sexual trauma (MST) incident. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination and additional VA treatment records, as well as the need to evaluate the severity of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied service connection for ADHD or other acquired psychiatric disorder, including panic disorder, as the evidence did not meet the full diagnostic criteria to establish separate and distinguishable diagnoses from the already service-connected PTSD with MDD and alcohol use disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating for PTSD and TDIU due to outstanding VA treatment records, need for VA examinations, and clarification of employment status.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric symptoms are related to his military service, including an artillery simulator attack. The decision does not address any other psychiatric conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorders. The RO must attempt to verify the Veteran's reported stressors and obtain a VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal seeking to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a back condition, and his appeals for service connection for a cervical spine disability, increased ratings for PFB and right hand disability have been dismissed.,Service connection for hypertension has been granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including simple phobia (fear of flying), panic attacks, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are found to have been incurred during his active service.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (previously claimed as PTSD) and service connection for sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities. The Veteran is to be provided with VA examinations to clarify his diagnoses and determine their etiology.