Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The VA is instructed to obtain a new examination and provide a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran’s disability since the initial claim date.

The Veteran's service-connected psychophysiological disability is rated at a 50 percent since September 24, 2009, to May 11, 2015.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The VA examiners concluded that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, mood disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's claim is more accurately characterized as seeking any acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right lateral ankle sprain and has remanded his service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with anxiety and depression, finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus between current psychiatric disabilities and military service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, and PTSD are related to his reported stressor while serving in combat in Kosovo. The Board finds that the current psychiatric conditions are etiologically related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including persistent depressive disorder and social anxiety disorder, as these conditions are found to have had their initial onset during military service.

The Veteran's GAD has been granted a 100 percent rating, effective from the date of his claim. The TDIU issue is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient notification regarding personal assault claims and conflicting medical opinions on PTSD diagnosis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for MS, brain lesions, cognitive disorder, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder are granted. The Board also finds that the Veteran has additional disabilities secondary to his service-connected MS, including vision disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, fatigue, erectile dysfunction, bladder and bowel dysfunction, foot drop, gait and imbalance issues, muscle spasms, left hand disability, left leg disability, and right leg disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient rationale in the VA examinations and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable evaluation for plantar warts and service connection for acid reflux as secondary to headaches have been dismissed.,Her appeal for service connection for sleep apnea, which is now considered secondary to her service-connected restrictive airway disease (RAD), has also been denied. The Board has determined that additional development is needed before a decision can be made on this issue.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence on file, and requests that VA examinations be conducted by specialists to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's current MDD and unspecified anxiety disorder are etiologically related to his active service, and the Board grants entitlement to service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection due to exposure to loud noise during service. Service connection for anxiety and depression is also granted, but sleep apnea and PTSD are denied.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is granted, but his diabetes mellitus and tinnitus claims are denied. The effective date for service connection of tinnitus is prior to June 8, 2017.,Service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea secondary to anxiety disorder is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete notification and potential new evidence, as well as the need for a VA examination regarding his mental health conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to new evidence added by VA. The Veteran's issues were last considered in April 2019, and additional records need to be reviewed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, is service-connected. The decision also found that the pre-existing condition of a psychiatric disability did not exist before service entrance.