Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD with depressive and anxiety disorders, finding that the claim was received after a final denial in August 2007.

The Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for service-connected anxiety disorder as of April 15, 2019. The Veteran's symptoms prior to this date did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of current medical records and exposure verification. The Veteran is also asked to provide information about his in-service injury or event that may have caused his psychiatric disability.

The Board has restored service connection for PTSD and granted special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ due to PTSD. Service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder is also granted as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. High blood pressure, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety neurosis, and PTSD), coronary artery disease status post coronary artery bypass, and colon cancer are all found to be related to service or presumptively due to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder is denied as the Veteran’s fatigue with sleep disturbance does not constitute a separate disability for compensation purposes.,The Veteran's thoracic spine disability is currently evaluated at 10 percent from prior to November 26, 2014 and 20 percent thereafter. The claim for an increased rating for this condition is denied as the evidence shows that forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was limited to 40 degrees at worst.,The Veteran's right retropatellar pain syndrome is currently evaluated at 10 percent, and a higher initial rating is sought. The claim is remanded for further development.,The Veteran's post-concussive syndrome with anxiety and depression secondary to residuals of a closed head injury with occipital fracture from August 11, 2004, to March 11, 2017 is currently evaluated at 30 percent. A higher initial rating is sought and the claim is remanded for further development.,The Veteran's residuals of a closed head injury with occipital fracture are currently evaluated at 40 percent, and a higher initial rating is sought. The claim is remanded for further development.,The Veteran's mild neurocognitive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder is currently evaluated at 70 percent, and a higher rating is sought. The claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding a rating in excess of 70 percent for service-connected MDD with anxiety, including whether separate ratings are warranted for MDD and anxiety.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and the need for clarification of the examiner's rationale regarding the Veteran's reported stressors and the resolution of his PTSD diagnosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inaccurate factual premise in a previous VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood. The claim is now being sent back for further evaluation.

Your appeals for service connection on various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to proceed with these matters.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's claim will be remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Board has denied a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the issues of service connection for residuals of stroke, PTSD, and TDIU due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic epididymitis or a rating in excess of 50 percent for chronic adjustment disorder associated with chronic epididymitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim for service connection is pending and will be addressed again after further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), to include depression and/or anxiety, finding that there is no credible evidence verifying the claimed in-service stressors. The issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claim for an examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depressive disorder. The examiner provided a negative nexus opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected hypertension and his current depressive disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for insomnia and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety with mixed features, on the basis of secondary service connection due to pre-existing conditions. The decision is based on evidence showing that these conditions were caused or aggravated by other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and bipolar disorder. The Veteran must be provided with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive and anxiety disorders with alcohol use disorder are rated at 70 percent since October 22, 2018. The Board also granted a TDIU effective from February 7, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability and that any diagnosed conditions are not related to service. The decision also denied service connection for cocaine, cannabis, and alcohol use disorders.