Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 29, 2016 is denied as there was no pending claim for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for anxiety disorder is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on housebound status is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for DEA benefits under Chapter 35 is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for headaches requires a remand to obtain a more current VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records, particularly regarding the Veteran's service in Turkey and his psychiatric treatment during service. The VA is instructed to obtain all relevant personnel and medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder, depression, and personality disorder, finding no current disability.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in total occupational and social impairment from October 1, 2017 to October 19, 2017. The Board granted a disability evaluation of 70 percent for this period.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for depression with anxiety, granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, and found that the Veteran's current mental health conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a skin disorder (manifested by knots of the underarms and tailbone), and a right knee disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of acquired psychiatric disability, nerve damage to the bowel, and nerve damage to the kidneys as secondary to prostate cancer. The appeal was not granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his claims of service connection for depression and anxiety, as well as TDIU. The Veteran has not been diagnosed with sleep problems or a current disability related to his migraine headaches.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for migraine headaches remains denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, while bilateral hearing loss and other conditions are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include psychiatric conditions, alcohol use disorder, and left knee pain.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, and will consider evidence of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including unspecified anxiety disorder and PTSD.

The Board dismissed the appeals of proposed reductions in ratings for acne and generalized anxiety disorder and insomnia as no final rating decision had been issued.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is rated at 30 percent, and the claim for a higher rating is denied. The left ankle strain is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood has not been manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, so the claim for an initial rating greater than 50 percent is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including depression, anxiety, obstructive sleep apnea, hemorrhoids, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a lumbar spine condition, bilateral knee joint pain, bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and anxiety disorder is granted, effective January 30, 2019. The Board found that the earliest effective date available was January 30, 2019.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is related to his service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including persistent depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder with substance abuse, is granted. The Veteran's substance induced paroxysmal dyskinesia is also granted. As the Veteran has been granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, the issue of service connection for purposes of treatment only is dismissed.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar and cervical spine degenerative disc diseases, chronic headaches, sinusitis, right hip disability, traumatic brain injury residuals, auditory processing disorder, and psychiatric disabilities. The remand requires obtaining relevant medical records from Social Security Administration and the Okaloosa Vet Center.