Anxiety decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete evaluations and a need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his anxiety disorder and depressive disorder is denied. The claim of service connection for Meniere's disease and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo with left ear hearing loss and tinnitus is dismissed as the RO has already granted it in full.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder, lumbosacral strain, knee arthritis, tinnitus, and various nerve entrapments, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches. Service connection is remanded for anxiety disorder and PTSD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left knee disability, and a right ankle disability.,Service connection is remanded for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's symptoms related to his acquired psychiatric disorder. A new examination is needed to determine these factors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was dismissed as it had already been granted in a previous decision. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, memory disorder, and PTSD, was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and insomnia, finding that there was no medical nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and verifying Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and other issues, including a remand for new opinions on the relationship between his current conditions and his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for decreased sensation, periorbital area - fifth cranial nerve/trigeminal has been withdrawn and is therefore dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his deviated septum is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right forearm condition (also claimed as numbness and painful scar) is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and anxiety, is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for opioid use disorder (to include residuals of such disorder) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA mental health treatment records and a copy of the Veteran's hospitalization records from Novant Matthews Hospital. The Veteran was hospitalized in September 2014 for an attempted suicide.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, Adjustment Disorder (secondary to PTSD), and an unspecified Anxiety Disorder has been granted due to the submission of new evidence. The appeal is allowed in part.

The Veteran's initial claim for an anxiety condition with somatic pain disorder was granted, and he is currently rated at 70 percent. The appeal seeks a higher rating but the evidence does not support such a rating. The Veteran also sought TDIU due to his service-connected condition, which was granted.

The Board has expanded the scope of the appeal to include consideration as to whether service connection may be awarded for any acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Meniere's syndrome is denied as not related to service.,Service connection for vertigo and anxiety are remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for depression, adjustment disorder, and anxiety is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to a lack of compliance with previous remands. The Veteran's psychiatric condition, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is being evaluated again.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete documentation and authorization requests. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for treatment records from Dr. CEMQ.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches was granted.,The Veteran's claim for an initial higher rating of major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder prior to October 25, 2018 was denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for generalized anxiety disorder is remanded due to incomplete development. The appeal will be addressed again after additional medical opinions and records are obtained.