Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Veteran's thoracolumbar disc disease remains at a 40% rating. Service connection for psychiatric disorders, left and right arm numbness are remanded due to inadequate examination standards.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination and the need for a new opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including his diagnoses of depressive disorder NOS, unspecified anxiety disorder, and provisional PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records from 1978 and a need for further medical examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, began during his active service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder. The claims of service connection for prostate cancer, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to prostate cancer are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete military personnel records and insufficient development of her military service records. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if her current respiratory, psychiatric, and digestive conditions are related to her military service, including exposure at Fort McClellan.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error in the November 2019 VA examination, which did not consider all relevant evidence and lay statements from the Veteran and his spouse.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder claim was granted with a 30% evaluation, while the heart disorder claim was denied. The appeal is mixed as both claims are decided on their merits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric condition, including as secondary to sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are granted as his diagnosis is related to in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and PTSD, is granted. The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has a current psychiatric disability related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service-connected PTSD with depression and anxiety is remanded due to the need to obtain medical records from November 2012.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records regarding the Veteran's performance evaluations during his military service, which may provide evidence corroborating his reports of assault and harassment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The Board finds that a VA examination is needed to address the nature and etiology of these conditions, as well as whether they are caused or aggravated by his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, and PTSD have been reopened. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (claimed as anxiety disorder) is remanded for further examination and opinion. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for PTSD, an effective date prior to October 12, 2014, and service connection for anxiety disorder have all been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been granted for IBS and his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and GAD. The remaining claims have been remanded for further examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the disability rating for generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, resulting in its dismissal.

The Board has remanded the claim for additional development due to a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to incomplete records, need for additional examinations, and need for proper notice regarding entitlement under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.