Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder (PDD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The decision is based on the Veteran's various diagnoses of a psychiatric disorder during and after service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent from May 7, 2010 to September 27, 2018, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to October 19, 2011.

The Board has denied the claim for increased rating of bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for earlier effective date(s) for MDD with GAD and an increased rating. The Veteran's MDD is currently rated at 70%.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran not appearing for a VA examination, and he is willing to attend another one. The examiner should provide an opinion on whether any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder is medically linked to his in-service diagnosis of adjustment disorder with depressed mood.

The Board denied service connection for any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to a lack of clinical diagnosis and the presence of other diagnosed mental disorders.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, a low back condition, and a respiratory condition including shortness of breath have been granted. The acquired psychiatric disability claim remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an anxiety disorder at any time during or proximate to the pendency of his appeal, and therefore denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is rated at 20 percent and the appeal period for an increased rating does not warrant a higher rating.,PTSD with generalized anxiety was rated at 70 percent prior to June 11, 2019. The case is remanded as the Veteran's symptoms do not meet criteria for a higher rating.,TDIU was granted effective November 19, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorder was granted in a May 2019 rating decision. The claims for inflammation of the joints, chronic fatigue syndrome, anemia, elevated white cell blood count (WCB) and chronic blood disorder, lymphedema, postsurgical hypothyroidism, residuals of radiation exposure, sleep apnea, low back disability, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral knee pain are all remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, depression, cognitive impairment, and adjustment disorder, is granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for chronic urticaria with angioedema and anaphylaxis is granted at a 40 percent level, effective from the date of his December 2014 claim. The Veteran's PTSD with depression (also diagnosed as generalized anxiety disorder) remains rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder II, is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities (obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and lumbar strain/myositis).

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for vision condition and tinnitus have been dismissed due to his request to withdraw them.,The Veteran's appeals for initial disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, burn scar of the chin, hepatitis, and initial compensable ratings for burn scars on various body parts are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, now with posttraumatic stress disorder, was granted a rating of 70 percent prior to October 15, 2015. The Veteran also received TDIU effective September 26, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for psychiatric disabilities other than PTSD, PTSD, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, neck disability, and both knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions at the time of his claims.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with dyssomnia was granted a 50 percent rating from March 23, 2017. The appeal for higher ratings prior to that date and after August 11, 2019 is denied.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety and depression as there is no evidence of a separate diagnosis, and the Veteran's symptoms are part of his PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying in-service stressors.