Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed depressive and anxiety disorders are causally related to his service-connected disabilities, specifically right knee, left knee, left shoulder strain, lumbar strain, and degenerative arthritis. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has denied service connection for a neck condition due to the lack of evidence of a current disability.,Service connection is remanded for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral lower extremities, and respiratory conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression with anxiety and chronic sleep impairment, as secondary to his service-connected shoulder disability. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of any formal mental condition under DSM-V criteria.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and right elbow epicondylitis were not incurred or aggravated in service, are not presumed service connected, and are not proximately due to or aggravated by her service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and schizophrenia as these conditions are not related to service.,Service connection was also denied for dementia due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Board denied service connection for chronic residuals of a left ankle sprain and a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and conversion disorder.

The Veteran's GERD and hiatal hernia were not incurred during service, nor are they related to his service-connected depressive and anxiety disorders. The Board denied the claim for service connection.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction was also not incurred during service and is not related to his service-connected depressive and anxiety disorders. The Board denied the secondary service connection claim.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral ankle condition is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection for posterior tibial tendonitis. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety disorder) is denied, and the claim for increased rating for pes planus with bilateral fasciitis and hammertoes is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for mixed anxiety and depressed mood, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disability, and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been dismissed. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, and service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to a psychiatric disability. The Veteran's claim of PTSD is remanded due to the need for verification of his claimed stressor, while the issue of erectile dysfunction is remanded in conjunction with the psychiatric disability claim.

The appellant withdrew their appeal regarding the service connection for atrial fibrillation, benign positional vertigo, tinnitus, allergies, and depression and anxiety. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and opinion regarding service connection claims, including those related to obesity, acquired psychiatric disorders (PTSD, anxiety disorder, nervousness), osteoarthritis, cataract, chronic kidney disease, heart condition, hypertension, and stomach disorder.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted. The claims for low back disability and CAD are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because his service-connected anxiety disorder, NOS did not meet the schedular requirements and there was no evidence of unemployability due to service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an updated VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding the timeliness of the Notice of Disagreement (NOD) for SMC, as it is part and parcel to a timely appeal related to the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder. The issue of entitlement to SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound has been remanded due to incorrect treatment of the NOD.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, but not higher. The Board found the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent.,For rhinitis with sinusitis, the Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent since April 21, 2015. The Board found that he has more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year and granted him a 30 percent rating effective from April 21, 2015.,The Veteran's chronic anxiety and depression is rated at 30 percent.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for depression and anxiety disorder, finding that no valid claim was submitted prior to September 2013.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for anxiety disorder is dismissed due to their passing away during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further development, including verification of stressors and VA examinations.