Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for congenital cataracts has been denied as the evidence does not show that his condition was aggravated by active duty service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and an anxiety disorder) have been remanded due to insufficient examination findings. The examiner must consider all psychiatric diagnoses during the appeal period and provide a rationale for their opinion.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder condition has been remanded as the VA examination was inadequate. An addendum is required, considering whether the condition is directly related to active duty service or aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder condition or degenerative disc disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety condition, severe headaches, left foot condition, right foot condition, intervertebral disk syndrome (claimed as low back problems), left hip problems, and right knee condition due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including tinnitus, alcohol abuse, traumatic brain injury, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, right hip condition, left hip osteoarthritis, right sciatica, left sciatica, bilateral leg disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The decision also denied a request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and mood disorders with anxiety, depression, and alcohol abuse, is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a response from the Veteran regarding any private medical evidence.

The Board has dismissed the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).,The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, skin cancer, an eye disability, PTSD, and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is also remanded as it involves a mental health condition that may be related to his claimed skin disability.,The Board has not addressed the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right eye disability due to 38 U.S.C. § 1151, which was referred to the AOJ.

The Board has denied a higher rating for PTSD from March 31, 2011 to December [REDACTED], 2017. The case is remanded for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's PTSD after December [REDACTED], 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) and PTSD. The case is remanded to determine the current severity of the right knee disability and whether the Veteran meets criteria for a separate rating under DC 5257.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder and entitlement to a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete service records and the need for further medical examinations. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back disorder, a bilateral foot disorder, a right inguinal hernia, diverticulitis, and hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new examination.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted. Service connection for a right knee disorder and left knee disorder, both secondary to service-connected bilateral hammertoe, is denied. Service connection for a low back disorder, also secondary to service-connected bilateral hammertoe, is denied.

The Veteran's anxiety and depression are related to his service in Vietnam, including combat duties. The Board granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined issues of service connection and increased ratings. The claims will be readjudicated after any necessary development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that his current psychiatric disorder is not related to his military service and does not meet the criteria for secondary or aggravation service connection.

The Veteran's right hand fifth metacarpal disability was denied a compensable rating, but service connection for low back and left knee disabilities were granted.,Service connection for sleep disorder to include insomnia, depression, and anxiety disorder was also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and panic disorder, is related to his active military service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War. After considering all evidence, the Board finds that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not caused by his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to non-compliance with previous remand directives regarding VA treatment records from North Chicago VAMC.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to December 2, 2013 due to insufficient evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities resulted in total unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, and insomnia on an accrued basis. Service connection was denied for sleep apnea, hyperlipidemia, a breathing problem disability, a cervical disability, degeneration of the intervertebral disc, hypoglycemia, a right elbow disability, a left knee disability, a chest pain disability, bilateral blepharitis, bilateral senile cataracts, dry eyes, and vision problems on an accrued basis.