Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete verification of the Veteran's claimed stressors. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Further development is needed to verify these stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder, has been granted. The Board found that the evidence is at least as likely as not related to his active service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a sleep disorder is granted, but the claim for an anxiety disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, anxiety, alcohol abuse disorder, and cannabis abuse disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence to resolve the claims. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current psychiatric conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is granted as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The Veteran's PTSD claim remains pending due to lack of verification of stressors.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sleep apnea and TDIU due to concerns with the examination provided in March 2020. The examiner is asked to provide a new opinion addressing causation and aggravation.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to in-service stressors, including being trapped in the hull of a ship surrounded by ammunition at dangerous temperatures and serving aboard a ship during a typhoon. The Veteran's post-service psychiatric treatment records support this finding.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The effective date for a 20% rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy is set at July 21, 2016. Effective August 30, 2017, the Veteran received increased ratings of 40% for residuals of TBI and 70% for unspecified anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and his active service.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Major Depressive Disorder to greater than 70 percent is denied due to lack of medical evidence supporting such a high level of disability.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as he meets the schedular requirements and his service-connected conditions render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly those related to diabetes and stroke, necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance. The Board has granted SMC based on this need.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, anxiety, and depression. The Board found that his current diagnosis is not related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder due to a lack of proper appeal initiation. The claim for ataxic gait (claimed as ageotropic static positional nystagmus) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a failure to provide a VA examination, and because the issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent from March 16, 2006.,Entitlement to SMC(k) based on loss of use of a creative organ is remanded.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder is productive of deficiencies in the areas of work, family relations, and mood. The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including an anxiety disorder. The issues of service connection and TDIU are being addressed due to their interrelated nature.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's PTSD and adjustment disorder, as well as a need for additional VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion to address the etiology of the claimed acquired psychiatric disorder and considering all reported stressors.