Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, was granted. The claims for heart disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension were remanded.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for unspecified anxiety disorder was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity warranting a higher rating.,Service connection for heart disability (to include coronary artery disease) and sleep apnea were both denied. The Board concluded that there was no evidence to support service connection based on direct, secondary, or aggravation theories of service connection.

The Board has decided that the claims for hepatitis C and acquired psychiatric disorders need further examination to determine their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right knee disability, left lower extremity sciatica, and right lower extremity sciatica as secondary to a left knee disability. Service connection was granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression).,Service connection was denied for all claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate is granted, effective October 22, 2013. The decision is based on his service-connected psychiatric disability and other disabilities reaching a combined total of 60 percent or greater.

The Veteran's service connection claims for pes planus, right-foot disorder, left-foot disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and migraine headaches have all been denied. The Board found that the pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression. The case is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders and whether they are related to his service-connected tinnitus. Additionally, the case is also remanded to determine if the Veteran has bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression was granted, with a 50% rating prior to November 1, 2019.,From November 1, 2019, the Veteran received a 70% rating for his service-connected adjustment disorder.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with anxiety was rated at 30 percent prior to October 15, 2019 and 70 percent thereafter. The appeal is remanded for further development.,Service connection for esophagus stricture, hiatal hernia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with erosive esophagitis are also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression and PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence of a diagnosed PTSD based on verified in-service stressors and concluded that the Veteran did not meet the full diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an examination addressing whether the Veteran's service-connected knee disability aggravated his anxiety disorder. The case will be readjudicated with consideration of this issue.

The Veteran's lower back disability is granted as service connected.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety and depression, is denied.,Bilateral lower extremity neurogenic claudication is granted as secondary to the now service-connected lower back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability due to military sexual trauma (MST) and found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of anxiety disorder and adjustment disorder with anxiety are related to her in-service MST.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and as secondary to his service-connected asbestosis. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current psychiatric disabilities to in-service occurrences or to his service-connected condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of recent VA examination and treatment records, as well as changes in symptoms. A new examination is needed to determine an appropriate disability rating for GAD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with depression and anxiety has been reopened, and the Board has granted this claim. The claims for erectile dysfunction and left ear hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran's TBI and assault in service are considered.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired mental health condition, including PTSD and anxiety, is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinion regarding the relationship between his current mental health conditions and events in service.

The Veteran's PTSD, depressive disorder, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder were rated at 70 percent for the period from April 24, 2013 to May 20, 2018.