Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and earlier effective date for anxiety disorder was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of total occupational and social impairment, and thus, a higher rating than 70% is not warranted. An earlier effective date prior to July 17, 2013, for service connection of anxiety disorder is also denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased evaluation of his psychiatric disability was denied. A separate evaluation for posttraumatic tension headaches was granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and anxiety disorders.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's in-service stressors for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders. The VA will attempt to verify these stressors through additional requests, including to the JSRRC.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and TDIU claims due to a lack of recent VA examinations, outstanding medical records, and incomplete information from the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset and relationship to his in-service symptoms. The Veteran is asked to provide information about any private or VA medical providers who have treated him for these disabilities since service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. The Board finds that an additional VA examination is needed to ascertain the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer, type II diabetes mellitus, and a heart disorder are remanded due to the need for further development regarding herbicide exposure and possible verification of in-service events. The Board also finds that VA examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current disorders.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine its relationship to his military service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and low back disorder are remanded due to the need for VA examinations to determine their nature and etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis, depression, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and anxiety), and tinnitus. The decision found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board has dismissed all claims for service connection and evaluations, as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's anxiety was found to be related to non-service events and not due to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and requires additional medical examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder and PTSD, due to insufficient evidence regarding the in-service stressors. The case will be readjudicated after additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive and generalized anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for a DRO hearing.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for mixed anxiety depressive disorder has been dismissed as the full benefit sought was granted.,The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for stress fracture of the right tibia with instability and left femur and left tibia stress related phenomena have been denied. The current 20 percent ratings are deemed appropriate based on the evidence of record.,For the periods from October 1, 2012 to February 25, 2016, and April 1, 2016 to October 15, 2018, the Veteran's right knee disability was rated under DC 5003-5260. The current ratings of 10 percent are deemed appropriate based on limitation of motion.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating in excess of 10 percent for internal derangement with meniscal tear and degenerative arthritis of the right knee has been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than post-traumatic stress disorder, including depression and anxiety; sleep apnea; and headaches. The diagnoses are based on the Veteran's reported symptoms and medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's anxiety and insomnia are found to be symptoms of his service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder. His PTSD is granted a higher initial evaluation from June 1, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to issues being inextricably intertwined and insufficient evidence. The case must be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder and any personality disorder. The Veteran's OSA is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his military service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and schizophrenia, was granted. Service connection for the anxiety disorder is also granted. The claims for upper respiratory disorders and thyroid disorder are denied. A rating in excess of 20 percent for duodenal ulcer and low back disability is denied. Left lower extremity radiculopathy ratings prior to March 30, 2015 and after that date are also denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a sleep disorder, GERD, colon disorders, headache disorder, diabetes mellitus type II (DM), eye disorders, low back and neck disorders, erectile dysfunction, right and left carpal tunnel syndromes. The decision also denied reopening of the claim for hypertension.