Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 30 percent or more for his service-connected other recurrent depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's anxiety disorder is at least as likely as not proximately due to his service-connected disabilities or aggravated beyond its natural progression by service-connected disabilities. The initial rating claims for left knee degenerative changes and right knee scar are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and an increased rating for his left shoulder condition. The claim for psychiatric disorders was not addressed in detail, but it is noted that only depression was granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various psychiatric conditions, diabetes, a right knee condition, and prostate cancer. The remand requires further development of evidence regarding the Veteran’s claimed stressors for PTSD, verification of his in-service exposure to carbon tetrachloride/toxic chemicals for prostate cancer, and an addendum opinion from the March 2019 VA examiner.

The Veteran's service connection claims for BPH, HTN, and an acquired psychiatric condition are granted. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for macular degeneration, Parkinson’s Disease, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder are remanded due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during his military service.,The Veteran's claim for SMC based on need of aid and attendance is also remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's claimed service in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to service. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, including anxiety neurosis, left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, and left knee instability. The claims will be reviewed again with new examinations and additional evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression. The Board also found that the evidence supports a finding of service connection due to the onset of the condition during military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for depressive disorder and anxiety disorder due to a lack of an opinion linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression and anxiety, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence to corroborate the Veteran's reported in-service stressors. The diagnosed acquired psychiatric disabilities other than PTSD are considered sequelae or symptoms of his nonservice-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a left thumb disability is granted. The Board finds that an additional VA examination is necessary due to the recently received evidence showing left thumb disability. The claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral bunion disability are also remanded as there is insufficient competent medical evidence to adjudicate these claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, substance abuse, and insomnia), residuals of a burn to the face, and bilateral impaired vision are all granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for various acquired psychiatric, cardiac, erectile dysfunction, thyroid, sleep apnea, neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disorders was denied. The Board found no current disabilities in the record.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and review of his medical history.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss are also remanded.

The Veteran's chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety has been granted a 70 percent disability rating effective September 26, 2014. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for his service-connected genital herpes and TDIU have been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety as secondary to sleep apnea, but denied service connection for erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's current anxiety disorder NOS and unspecified depressive disorder are found to be as likely as not attributable to an in-service military sexual trauma (MST) incident, granting service connection for the acquired psychiatric disability.