Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include left wrist, right pinky finger, residuals of a broken left thumb, and mental health disability (anxiety).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a lumbar spine disability, and a skin disorder. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current symptoms and his military service.

The Veteran's combined disability ratings for service-connected disabilities are higher than the rate payable for nonservice-connection pension, making the claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits moot and dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder NOS, and adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, is being remanded due to inadequate development of the record. The Board requests additional medical opinions to address the etiology of these diagnoses.

The Board dismissed the appeals for various issues related to service connection and effective dates due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal, respiratory, psychiatric, hearing loss and tinnitus, lumbar spine, shoulder, hand, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and reduction of the rating for rhinitis were denied. The Board found that his anxiety disorder, sinusitis, rhinitis, bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids, appendectomy scar, right middle finger scar, and TDIU claims did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's TDIU claim since November 16, 2017, finding that his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation during this period. The decision is pending for prior to November 16, 2017.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including generalized anxiety disorder with dysthymic disorder, is granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, major depressive disorder, and anxiety, has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right foot, knee, back, stomach, and psychiatric conditions. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has denied service connection for a pulmonary disability and remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of current evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period from August 15, 2013 to March 31, 2017 is granted due to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral knee and shoulder conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disabilities, Hepatitis B, and a back disability. The primary reason was that the evidence did not support the presence of any other diagnosed psychiatric conditions besides alcohol dependence disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior remand orders and for additional development, including verifying a claimed stressor event and obtaining medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for schizoaffective disorder, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder. Service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is currently rated at 30 percent disabling, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they do not meet the criteria for a 50% or higher disability rating.

The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes and anxiety disorders. The decision is based on the severity of his conditions and their impact on his ability to work.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that he did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU from July 2, 2007 to August 19, 2010 due to his marginal employment and lack of physical or mental limitations.