Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, diabetes mellitus, type II, and PTSD with depression and anxiety is being remanded due to new evidence.,Higher disability ratings are not warranted for any of these conditions based on current medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete treatment records. The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anti-social personality disorder with secondary mood disorder, is being reviewed along with other issues related to his diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including generalized anxiety disorder, was granted. The claims for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities.

The Veteran's agoraphobia with panic disorder, MDD, generalized anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder II are found to be at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. His alcohol dependence is also found to be secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's bipolar I disorder, anxiety disorder with depression, adjustment disorder, and PTSD have not resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. The Board has determined that a disability rating of 50 percent is appropriate for the Veteran’s psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than an unspecified stressor-and trauma-related disorder. The TDIU claim is considered moot as the effective date was already granted.

The Veteran's PTSD and anxiety disorder are rated at 70 percent since October 31, 2018. The rating is granted as the conditions meet the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder and depression. The Veteran's heart condition is remanded for further examination to determine if it is a congenital defect or disease and whether any superimposed diseases or injuries occurred during service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and antisocial personality disorder, is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his depressive disorder and anxiety disorder.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided is inadequate and requires additional clarification regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders. Additionally, new evidence submitted by the Veteran after a Substantive Appeal filed on or after February 2, 2013, must be reviewed by the AOJ before being considered by the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as there was no evidence showing that his current conditions were caused by events during active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied for various conditions, including high cholesterol, gout, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, a sleep disability, a heart disability, urinary incontinence, an acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression and anxiety), headaches, a prostate disability, a thyroid disability, and hypertension. The Board found that there was no evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety disorder, due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with its prior remand and thus the appeal must be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD with anxiety. The TDIU claim is also being deferred until the service connection issue is resolved.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from April 1, 2011 to November 18, 2015 due to service-connected disabilities. The rating period prior to September 25, 2010 did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent for service-connected chronic adjustment disorder with anxiety, depression, and paranoia and his claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination opinions regarding the etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder preexisted service and was aggravated by military service. The claim for reopening a personality disorder claim is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, as there is no evidence showing that any of his service-connected conditions alone or in combination render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.