Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD, to include anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and sleeping disorder, is rated at 100 percent effective from January 9, 2013. Service connection for adjustment disorder is granted as part of the Veteran’s psychiatric disability. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and acquired psychiatric disorder (chronic anxiety and depression) due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability. The claims for right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder and persistent depressive disorder. A new VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for PTSD is denied. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected psychiatric disabilities (Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Persistent Depressive Disorder) is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for visual problems, an increased rating for duodenal ulcer, and an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of chronic or continuous disabilities that were related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and generalized anxiety disorder, is related to his service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent prior to November 27, 2018 for Meniere’s syndrome is denied. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms do not include attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring from one to four times a month or more than once weekly.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's claims and need for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and private treatment records. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine his current psychiatric conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent since May 12, 2009. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the service-connected anxiety disorder and other disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors and need for a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for GAD was dismissed because he did not timely file a substantive appeal. The Board also found that the Veteran met the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, which rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, depression disorder, and schizophrenia. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea (secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder), gastrointestinal disability (secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder), and erectile dysfunction (secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder) are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD with adjustment disorder, depression and anxiety prior to September 1, 2015 was rated at 70 percent disabling. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The claims for low back and right hip disabilities have been remanded due to incomplete service treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic skin condition and hypertension have been reopened, but the underlying claims are denied.,Service connection is granted for PTSD with anxiety disorder and depression prior to September 1, 2017, at a rating of 70 percent. The claim remains pending as it was not fully resolved.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and need for further evaluation of the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD.

The Veteran's disability rating for residuals of a cerebral vascular accident is denied as his impairment does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His right foot/ankle disability and cognitive impairments are rated separately.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disability, including diagnoses of major depressive disorder, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. The Veteran missed his first scheduled VA examination due to a fractured femur and an August 2019 VA examination due to inpatient treatment.