Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability has been granted a rating of 70 percent prior to December 10, 2015. Additionally, the Veteran is granted entitlement to TDIU due to his inability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for anxiety, depression, memory loss, back problems, and COPD. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active duty.

The Veteran's sleep disorder, bilateral hearing loss, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, hyperthyroidism, and acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression and anxiety) are all currently rated.,The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating and TDIU prior to January 12, 2015 are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding her mental health conditions.

The Veteran's depression and anxiety have caused reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability rating for the initial rating period from March 1, 2012 to June 11, 2018.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and a right knee disability. The case is remanded to further develop evidence regarding his right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been reopened and granted. The Board found that the evidence now submitted raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, and requesting an examination by an appropriate mental health clinician. The examiner is asked to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension, enlarged heart, and digestive problems due to insufficient medical evidence on file. The Veteran is diagnosed with anxiety disorder but did not recognize his neuropsychiatric symptoms during service. Remand is required for a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and worker's compensation records. The claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to November 16, 2019 is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for GAD and for a TDIU due to service-connected disability. The remand requires obtaining updated medical records, scheduling a VA examination, and providing additional medical opinions.

The Board has dismissed all service connection and increased rating claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as being proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood and anxiety is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current level of disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder, as well as hypertension. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and a need to obtain relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for anxiety disorder, lumbar spinal stenosis, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s anxiety disorder did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it did not cause deficiencies in most areas such as work or family relations. His lumbar spine disability was rated at 60 percent based on the old criteria, but should have been evaluated under the new General Spinal Formula which does not provide for a 60 percent rating. The Veteran's radiculopathy ratings were also denied.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is granted. The claims for bilateral hip and knee disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, and alcohol use disorder prior to September 3, 2014 are rated at a 70 percent disability level.