Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claim for PTSD was not addressed as it is a separate issue.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound rate due to insufficient evidence showing he requires regular aid and assistance from another person.

The appeal for service connection for onychomycosis, claimed as right foot dermatitis, is dismissed.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder claimed as PTSD, to include anxiety and depression are denied. The Veteran's hypertension claim has been remanded.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the right foot dermatitis issue in October 2019.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is being remanded for further development and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to make a decision on the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The Veteran's VA treatment records include diagnoses of insomnia, depression, and an unspecified 'anxiety state.' She testified that she began experiencing symptoms related to her claimed disabilities while in-service following hearing about sexual violence incidents.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorders, low back disorder, and right lower extremity disorder due to new evidence being submitted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD. The appellant is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder related to in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's depression and PTSD are related to his service-connected Peyronie’s disease or other factors. The issues of service connection for depression and PTSD remain on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD (claimed as anxiety and depression) is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is being remanded for a new examination to assess the severity of his condition. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for a disability other than PTSD, leg disability, lumbar spine disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy has been dismissed due to his withdrawal during the December 2019 Board hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate discussion of a May 1997 treatment note in the VA examination report. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is now pending and requires further medical evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for hypercholesterolemia, back disability, acquired psychiatric disability, epilepsy, and sleep disorder on substitution basis have all been denied due to lack of evidence supporting a link between these conditions and service.,For the claim for bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran was granted secondary service connection based on his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disorder was reopened due to new evidence. The Board found that the current diagnoses of asbestos-related pleural disease and anxiety and depression do not meet the criteria for service connection as they are not related to active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression is being remanded due to the need for further examination and verification of stressor events. The VA will attempt to verify the claimed stressors related to a military helicopter accident in January 2002, and the Veteran will be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service sexual assault, and he also has a diagnosed alcohol abuse disorder and anxiety. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, migraines, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to Gulf War exposure. The VA is required to provide a new opinion addressing whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the VA Regional Office (RO) did not substantially comply with its prior remand directives and thus, the case is being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. A new VA examination is needed to determine if any of these conditions are related to active service.