Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Veteran's sleep apnea was granted with a rating of 50% effective December 16, 2013. The appeals for higher initial disability ratings and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of a heart condition due to insufficient information in the current record. The Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS with panic attacks is being recharacterized as an acquired psychiatric disorder, and his heart condition requires further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence supporting a direct relationship with service. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, but denied service connection for PTSD and Panic Disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is reopened. The case is remanded due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding direct and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is granted. His somatization disorder is granted as well, but the other issues are remanded due to a need for further examination and development.

The Veteran's appeal for high cholesterol was dismissed as she withdrew her appeal.,Her claim for an increased evaluation of her total abdominal hysterectomy was denied, and the current rating is at its maximum level under applicable criteria.,Service connection for diabetes and hypertension were both denied due to lack of evidence showing these conditions during or within one year after service.,The Veteran's claim for reopening her psychiatric disorder claim was granted. The Board will now address the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder, including whether it is related to service or secondary to her hysterectomy.,reasoning_summary

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for epilepsy and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, depression, social phobia, stimulant use disorder (methamphetamine, other stimulants), and dysthymia. The issues are being remanded due to incomplete VA examination opinions and the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations and obtaining SSA disability records. The focus of the appeal is on whether his service-connected disabilities meet the criteria for automobile and adaptive equipment benefits.

The Veteran's GAD is rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The TDIU claim has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for generalized anxiety disorder was denied, and his claims for service connection of headaches and TDIU were also denied.