Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to October 1, 2018, as his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with anxiety is rated at 50% from June 25, 2018 to April 16, 2019. The Board also granted a TDIU effective from August 1, 2008.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck, low back, left hip, right knee, right ankle, right foot, and right hand conditions, as well as his erectile dysfunction (orchiodynia), head injury, headaches, anxiety, and depression. The claims are being returned to VA for further development.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for back, neck, and left elbow disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric condition, to include anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for ED as secondary to General Anxiety Disorder and for SMC for loss of use of a creative organ due to ED. The Veteran needs to undergo a VA examination to determine if his ED is caused or aggravated by his service-connected mental disorder.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder should be remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to November 23, 2016 was rated at 50 percent and now granted a higher rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for vocal cord atrophy was granted at a 60 percent level. Service connection for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, secondary to his service-connected vocal cord atrophy, was also granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for malaria and heat stroke, as well as the issues of an earlier effective date for anxiety disorder and initial higher ratings for PTSD have been dismissed.,Service connection for a sleep disturbance disorder has been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin condition, but remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety, depression, and PTSD). The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The decision finds that the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are at least as likely as not caused by his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for anxiety disorder (claimed as nervous condition) has been reopened, and the appeal is granted. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to verify a stressor and incomplete service records. The Veteran's mental health conditions, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, are being reviewed for possible connection to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of generalized anxiety disorder was denied. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date provided by law is June 2, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral knee disabilities, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood are being remanded for additional examinations to assess their current severity.

The Veteran's service connection claim for major depressive disorder with anxious distress is granted. The Board also remanded the cases of hypertension, sleep apnea, and right ankle condition due to need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The decision on whether service connection can be granted will depend on the outcome of these opinions.