Anxiety decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether service-connected conditions contributed to the Veteran's death. The appellant contends that anxiety disorder, hepatitis, hemorrhoids, and in-service treatment for dengue fever and ulcers substantially or materially contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further examination and development of records, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and clarifying information about a provider named Dr. C.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder, has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and COPD is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions. The claims for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, and TDIU are also remanded.

The Board has granted a TDIU rating from January 15, 2020. The case is remanded for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU for the period prior to January 15, 2020.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of diabetes mellitus. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a generalized anxiety disorder with an effective date of March 1, 2018. However, the claim for PTSD was denied as there is no valid diagnosis that meets the criteria for PTSD.

The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for depression is granted. The claim for service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric diagnoses (excluding depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety) is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with anxiety attacks has prevented her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since September 21, 2018. The Board granted the TDIU claim effective that date.

The Veteran's service-connected unknown febrile illness (claimed as malaria and cerebral malaria) is not active, resulting in no residuals other than the symptoms of epilepsy with mesial temporal sclerosis. The Veteran's epilepsy with mesial temporal sclerosis was rated based on its severity prior to September 9, 2019, and from that date onwards, a higher rating of 60 percent has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically Generalized Anxiety Disorder, is being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding the severity of his condition prior to and after January 29, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to unclear notification of scheduled VA examinations. The appeals are now pending again.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety is denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction is denied because the Veteran has not provided evidence that his condition was caused by a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and causation of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders. Additional development is needed, including a neuropsychological evaluation.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder (also claimed as depression and anxiety) throughout the appeal period. The issue of TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100 percent schedular rating.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and for Bipolar Disorder and Anxiety Disorder due to the lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors actually occurred.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The issues of acquired psychiatric disability and right ear hearing loss are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorder, as well as a cognitive impairment claim, are being returned to the RO for additional review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current mental health disability, including anxiety, depression and PTSD, is at least as likely as not related to in-service trauma, specifically fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. As such, service connection for his current mental health disability is granted.