Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for service connection of PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed again with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee condition is denied. The initial rating for GERD from October 25, 2016 to October 9, 2019 was granted at 10 percent and increased to 30 percent starting October 10, 2019. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder and cannabis abuse is not rated in excess of 70 percent. The rating for asthma remains unchanged. The left knee scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, which grants an initial evaluation for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, but the appeal is remanded to clarify his current diagnosis and determine if any of his symptoms are related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including depression and anxiety, is denied as there is no current evidence of a psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and acquired psychiatric disorder were denied service connection. The cervical spine disability was not found to be related to service or his service-connected bilateral pes planus, while the psychiatric disorder was not linked to service or his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a left ankle disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's reported stressors need to be verified, and he should be afforded VA examinations to determine the etiology of his psychiatric disorders and left ankle condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and seizure disorder due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The TDIU claim is deferred.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an additional VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The remand is necessary due to the lack of compliance with previous Board instructions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and efforts to verify in-service stressors. The Veteran's claim is being reconsidered on the merits as new service treatment records have been received.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability. The claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability is being remanded, and the TDIU claim will be deferred until the psychiatric issue is resolved.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional medical opinions regarding his claims of service connection for low and mid back pain and traumatic brain injury. The initial rating for generalized anxiety disorder remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, depression, or anxiety as these conditions are not shown to have begun during active service and are not related to an in-service injury or disease. The diagnoses provided by VA examiners do not support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to duty-to-assist errors and a need for an expert opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically whether it is related to his service-connected rhabdomyolysis or a June 2010 heat injury.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating above 40 percent for low back disability was denied, as the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes meeting criteria.,The Veteran's mental health disability (anxiety and depression) was granted a 70 percent rating, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including verifying service stressors and obtaining VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety are on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board denied the claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Board has decided that the Veteran's undescended testicle condition was not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied service connection. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and/or status post left tibia stress fracture aggravated her obesity, which in turn caused or substantially contributed to her obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).