Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability due to additional development being required. The VA examiner is asked to provide opinions on whether any of the diagnosed disabilities were caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service, including his service-connected low back disability and opioid use disorder.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including General Anxiety Disorder, Dysthymic Disorder, and Persistent Depressive Disorder, is granted.,Service connection for right hand scars is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome and unspecified anxiety disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep impairment, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence suggesting a possible secondary relationship with service-connected diabetes mellitus.,Further examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder, is related to a verified in-service stressor. Therefore, service connection for PTSD and an unspecified anxiety disorder is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic sinusitis and mild degenerative disc disease of the neck with degenerative arthritis, have been found to aggravate his psychiatric conditions resulting in diagnoses such as major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and unspecified bipolar disorder. Service connection is granted for these acquired psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including headaches, kidney disability, anxiety disorder, sleep apnea, left thumb disability, broken ribs residuals, lipoma scar, and bilateral pes cavus. The Veteran is not entitled to an initial compensable rating for headaches, his claim of service connection for a kidney disability remains pending, he must provide new evidence to reopen his previously denied claim, he needs to establish service connection for anxiety disorder, sleep apnea, left thumb disability, broken ribs residuals, lipoma scar, and bilateral pes cavus. The Board will review the claims again after obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and sleep apnea due to additional development being necessary.,Service connection cannot be established as there is no evidence linking current psychiatric or sleep conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no current diagnosis of chronic pain syndrome or an acquired psychiatric disorder due to chronic pain syndrome. The preponderance of evidence does not support the Veteran's claims.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and remanded the issues of a higher disability rating for phobic disorder and whether the Veteran's substance abuse disorder is aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability is rated at 70 percent, but the Board denied a rating in excess of this. The TDIU claim was granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for adjustment disorder was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied as he is not unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to May 22, 2015 and from September 1, 2015 to February 16, 2017 due to insufficient evidence showing he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and ADD. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder does not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent, as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a 50% disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with an emphasis on private treatment records and a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and failure to address all in-service stressors. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, as well as TBI residuals, need further evaluation.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for the death of the Veteran due to VA medical treatment, finding no evidence that VA's care caused or aggravated his mental condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and groin and bilateral testicle pain disorder due to inconsistencies in the evidence of record, including a lack of documentation of service connection for these conditions. A VA examination is required to determine if there is a link between the claimed disorders and active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of a September 1978 VA Medical Certificate and History which includes a diagnosis of anxiety. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorder, is being reviewed again for proper service connection.