Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for depression and severe anxiety. The case is now remanded for further development, including a psychiatric examination.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder (MDD) as aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder. The rating for the psychiatric disability will be remanded to consider additional impairment caused by MDD.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety, agoraphobia, and depression resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas but did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Board has expanded the claim adjudicated to include any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is remanded due to conflicting evidence and insufficient medical information. A new VA mental disorders examination by a psychiatrist or psychologist is needed to determine if the Veteran meets the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. For the initial rating claim, a VA examination is also needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran’s immune disorder (evolving lupus).

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether any of the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders, other than PTSD, are related to his service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (excluding PTSD), hypertension, tinnitus, and PTSD. The Veteran's claims for migraines are also pending.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, depression, anxiety (acquired psychiatric disability), right ear hearing loss, blurred vision, anal condition, and hypertension have been granted as new and material evidence has been submitted. The service connection claims are reopened.

The Veteran's PTSD rating is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination and the need for a new one with a qualified clinician who has not previously examined him.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to November 11, 2013, finding that his employment was not in a protected or sheltered work environment and thus did not qualify as substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, not including PTSD. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for service-connected depressive disorder and anxiety disorder has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and procedural issues. The Veteran will need a VA examination to assess his psychiatric conditions, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new examination opinions being required.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination, including service connection claims for various psychiatric disorders, hypertension, substance abuse, Meniere’s disease, hearing loss, impotence, and special monthly compensation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the baseline level of severity of the Veteran's psychiatric conditions prior to their aggravation by service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection is being returned for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to February 13, 2020, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD with cannabis abuse and anxiety disorder is currently rated at 70 percent disabling from November 5, 2015. The appeal for a higher rating prior to this date has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his in-service stressor and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that his symptoms are subsumed by his existing service-connected PTSD.