Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for status post pterygium excision of bilateral eyes is denied. The application to reopen a claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, previously evaluated as major depression and anxiety claimed as nervous condition, is granted.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including passive-aggressive personality disorder, depression, and anxiety, finding that the conditions were not caused by service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis is granted. The claims for service connection for unspecified anxiety and right knee osteoarthritis are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and new evidence, including internet articles submitted by the Appellant.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, are found to be secondary to her service-connected urethral polyps with residual microhematuria and urinary tract infections.

The Board has granted service connection for an unspecified anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded due to inadequate examination and need for further medical opinion.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been granted a disability rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of decision.,Service connection for prostate cancer residuals is granted with an initial disability rating of 100 percent prior to January 7, 2013, and 40 percent thereafter. Service connection for hypertension is remanded.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection is denied for generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, migraine headaches, insomnia, tinnitus, and vision problems. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, was found to be causally related to the trauma she experienced during active service. As a result, her claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he is not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression and anxiety, and hepatitis C due to outstanding private treatment records not yet obtained.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's anxiety disorder and another to evaluate his employability. The increased rating claim for anxiety disorder is also being remanded.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent as his symptoms do not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment required for a higher disability rating. For TDIU, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities (persistent depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder and duodenal ulcer) meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to their combined effect on his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development, including a need for a new VA examination to identify and discuss the presence or absence of PTSD, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes PTSD and anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's stressors occurred during his service in Vietnam. The preponderance of evidence supports this decision.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70% disability rating since January 9, 2019. A TDIU was also granted from that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with anxiety, has been granted. The appeal as to the remaining issues (right shoulder disorder, OSA, bilateral flat foot, left shoulder osteoarthritis, left ankle strain, right ankle strain, left hip osteoarthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis) is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The rating for anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified, is granted from March 20, 2013, with a 50% disability rating. The rating for tinnitus remains at 10%. TDIU is remanded.