Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is granted as service connection due to in-service military sexual trauma (MST).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder with secondary anxiety was denied in January 2008, and the effective date of this grant is set at July 5, 2018, when the Veteran submitted an intent to file a claim. The Board found no legal basis to grant an earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, stress and alcohol abuse dependence; mild head trauma with blackout; menorrhagia claimed as vaginal bleeding; lower mouth, swelling; lump on the left side of neck; lump behind the left ear; sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, claimed as nasal congestion; skin trauma and abrasions, right arm; and skin abrasions of the right elbow, bilateral knees and upper back.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a current VA examination to assess the severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and an acquired psychiatric disability due to a lack of medical opinions on record.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for anxiety disorder and secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea to his anxiety disorder were both denied by the Board.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating has already been assigned.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection and evaluations for various conditions are remanded due to need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and cyclothymic disorder, as well as hypertension. The Veteran's current diagnoses are being evaluated further.,The appeal regarding a cervical spine disorder is also remanded due to insufficient medical records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than September 18, 2018 for PTSD with depression and anxiety, and for a higher rating for CAD. The case is remanded to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected heart disability.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety), finding no current diagnosis of such a condition.,Service connection was also denied for bicuspid aortic valve, as the Veteran's pre-existing defect did not worsen during his period of active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran's claims are based on in-service stressors and current diagnoses of various mental health conditions.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities, anxiety and depression, and low back disability. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right arm condition is denied.,The Veteran's current conditions are found to be related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, right ankle strain, and right elbow degenerative arthritis are all granted service connection. The decision is based on the current disability, in-service injury or disease, and a nexus between them.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder with unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder. The issues of service connection for residuals of a healed right great toe fracture and a right knee disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder and trichotillomania, is currently rated at 70 percent disabling. The Board denied a higher evaluation as the evidence does not support total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the Veteran's medical history and need for further examination. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and migraine headaches are being reviewed.

The Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's psychiatric disability as of January 8, 2019. The Veteran previously had a 50 percent rating prior to that date. The decision is based on the severity and frequency of symptoms such as depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, memory loss, and difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, PTSD, and anxiety disorder have been granted. The decision also remanded the claims for PTSD.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of a nexus between current diagnoses and service. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim is REMANDED as there are conflicting diagnoses.

The Board has vacated the May 2019 decision denying a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to February 19, 2013 due to new evidence submitted in June 2019. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment prior to that date.