Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted as service connected. The claims for toenail fungus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, a depressive disorder, and anxiety), neurobehavioral effects to the face, and heart disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, but the Board denied a higher rating.,Prior to March 8, 2013, the Veteran was granted a 50 percent rating for his anxiety and cognitive disorder, but not more. The Board also denied a higher rating for epilepsy prior to that date.,Beginning March 8, 2013, the Veteran's epilepsy is rated as 80 percent disabling.

The Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety, are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is granted at a 70% rating since December 4, 2017. The left knee disability claim was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder, is related to his service due to combat exposure during the Gulf War. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and higher ratings have been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records related to his anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's service connection for thyroid cancer is granted. The claim for SMC based on housebound status is denied.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability is granted. The issues of service connection for osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and headaches are remanded.

The Board is remanding both issues related to the Veteran's PTSD and depression, including a request for new evidence to reopen the depression claim.

The Board has remanded three issues: the initial rating for anxiety disorder, TDIU, and SMC. The reasons are that an updated examination is needed due to a long appeal period and missing treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and service connection for alcohol abuse as secondary to PTSD. The current rating for PTSD is 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error related to the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The RO should attempt to corroborate the Veteran’s in-service stressors and afford him a VA examination to determine the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as a result of military sexual trauma (MST), bilateral foot tendonitis, and other issues. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible statements regarding her symptoms and medical records that support these findings.

The Veteran's service-connected mental disabilities, including major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to September 3, 2014. The Board has granted entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, but the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) to include anxiety was granted. The decision also reopened the previously denied claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from Family Care Partners and other care providers.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition due to new and material evidence. The claims for tinnitus, hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and personality disorder) are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, right knee disability, scarring of the face and neck, linear scar of the left eyebrow, and TDIU claim.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for fibromyalgia as due to an undiagnosed illness is granted. The Board has remanded cases related to PTSD, depression and anxiety, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, and fibromyalgia.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety.