Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70% disability rating for PTSD is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a worsened PTSD disability picture until the April 2019 VA examination, and there was no evidence supporting a finding of increased severity one year earlier.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to failure of the Veteran to report to scheduled VA examinations and lack of attempts to reschedule. The issues include psychiatric disabilities, drug abuse, low back disability, spina bifida, and a neurological disorder of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is granted as service connected. The Veteran withdrew his claim for a jaw disability.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with acute anxiety is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has decided to remand this case for a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records and a supplemental opinion regarding the Veteran's ability to work.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety and depression, but remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his current psychiatric disorders are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neuropathy of the bilateral feet and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, depressive disorder and anxiety disorder) due to incomplete opinions regarding service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, due to a lack of evidence showing that he attended his scheduled VA examination. The Veteran will be given another opportunity to attend a psychiatric examination by an appropriate examiner before the claim is adjudicated on its merits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder) due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are related to his military service. The VA is required to obtain a medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of any current chronic psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, and OCD.

The Board denied service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder as secondary to tinnitus and a sleep wake disorder because there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the inadequacy of a VA examination and incomplete medical records. The Board will determine if the Veteran can function in an occupational environment considering all his service-connected disabilities, including anxiety, tinnitus, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for its decision, requiring further development and an opinion on the etiology of any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for various conditions are remanded due to the need for a medical opinion addressing whether these conditions resulted from events not reasonably foreseeable as a result of VA treatment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for depressive disorder and anxiety disorder is denied as there was no prior communication indicating intent to file a claim before September 11, 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD and TBI conditions were combined in the April 2019 rating decision, which was improper. The separate ratings for each condition are restored.,PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is denied as there has been no material improvement shown by a preponderance of the evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied because he did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. The Veteran's bipolar I disorder with anxiety disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but his TDIU claim was granted due to his inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA eligibility are granted as of August 1, 2013. The effective date is based on the reduction in his psychiatric disability rating from 100% to 70%. The Veteran had a permanent total service-connected disability prior to this effective date.