Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD due to service and therefore, cannot establish service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development, including a lack of an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's current symptomatology and whether his psychiatric disorders are related to service. The VA must provide an addendum medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher initial rating for TBI and anxiety disorder, NOS, and entitlement to a total rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for PTSD was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease and disc disease of the neck / cervical spine, anxiety disorder, cephalgia, bilateral hearing loss, heart disability, pulmonary disability, and stroke pathology/_residuals were granted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied, and her claim for service connection for psychiatric disability (including depression and anxiety) is remanded for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions. The claim will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders, including adjustment disorder, bipolar disorder, major depression, PTSD, and anxiety disorder, are at least as likely as not related to service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically anxiety disorder, is granted a 70 percent rating. The issue of entitlement to total disability for individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board has remanded several claims for service connection due to the Veteran's previous denial of these conditions in 2014 and 2016. The new claim is considered a reopening of those prior determinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for anxiety and depression, as well as his claims for PTSD and residuals of extracted teeth. The evidence did not establish new and material evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is required.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to concerns about the confirmation of the Veteran's in-service stressor and the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's death is being remanded for further development to verify his in-service stressor and determine if he had an acquired psychiatric disorder during service that contributed to his cause of death.

The Board is unable to determine the periods of employment and unemployment for the Veteran prior to April 17, 2005 due to incomplete records. The case is being remanded to obtain these records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, his claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied as he does not meet the VA standards for a current disability.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, elbow disorder, wrist disorder, hip disorder, knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder (other than right ankle sprain), shoulder disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and service.,The Veteran's claim for a cervical spine disorder has also been remanded as no VA examination addressing the direct or secondary theory of entitlement was conducted.,His claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for shin splints, left leg and right leg have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for left inguinal hernia, epididymo-orchitis with orchiditis and hydrocele, tinnitus, right eye condition, and left shoulder condition have been withdrawn. The appeal for anxiety and depression has resulted in a grant of service connection.,Tinnitus remains at 10%.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to extend her delimiting date for educational assistance benefits under Chapter 30, finding that her service-connected psychiatric disability did not prevent her from initiating or completing her chosen program of education during the eligibility period.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in October 2019 is inadequate for decision making purposes and requires an addendum opinion to address service connection on a direct-incurrence basis, including behavioral changes during active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosis of PTSD or other mental disorders during active duty or within one year after discharge. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for VA medical treatment under 38 U.S.C. § 1702.