Anxiety decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues are remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's post traumatic headaches have been granted a 50 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the decision. The TBI and associated mental health conditions are remanded for further review.

The Board has found that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate VA medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The current examination did not provide sufficient rationale for its conclusions.

The Veteran's claim for left knee calcific tendinitis, infrapatellar tendon was reopened and granted. Tinnitus and anxiety disorder were also granted.,Bilateral hearing loss, right and left knee disorders (including right knee posttraumatic residual degenerative joint disease), thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and headaches (claimed as cephalgia) are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Board dismissed all issues related to service connection, rating for CTS, and SMC based on a need for aid and attendance or housebound status due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizoaffective disorder was granted, with the Board finding that his current psychiatric disability did not clearly and unmistakably preexist service and is etiologically related to in-service symptoms and diagnoses.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, adjustment disorder with anxiety, are being remanded due to incorrect categorization of the issues as secondary to service-connected status-post inguinal hernia repairs instead of nerve entrapment. Additional medical opinions are needed.

The Board has remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, due to insufficient explanation of whether these conditions are related to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum medical opinion to determine if any psychiatric disability prior to the Veteran's death was related to his period(s) of active service, and whether it is at least as likely as not that any diagnosed psychiatric disability contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, but the Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. The decision found that symptoms of these conditions had onset in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder NOS, panic disorder with agoraphobia and depressive disorder NOS, finding that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions or a link to service.

The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective December 6, 2019. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and other specified anxiety disorder are related to his employment difficulties.

The Veteran's appeals regarding his adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, prostate cancer reduction from 100% to 40%, prostate cancer rating higher than 40%, and TDIU prior to January 22, 2016 are all remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received by the Veteran, which raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination in May 2016. A new VA examination is needed to determine if any current psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, and unspecified depressive disorder, are related to active military service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent from March 31, 2014 to April 12, 2019. The rating will remain at 50 percent prior to March 31, 2014 and the TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder(s), as well as evaluating the current level of severity of the Veteran's service-connected heart disability. The issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, and entitlement to an increased rating for a heart disability are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking ischemic heart disease to his active duty service or presumed exposure to herbicides. The Board also found that other conditions listed did not contribute to his death.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS is rated at 50 percent since September 29, 2003. The issue of an initial rating for severe lumbar myositis and the TDIU claim are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disorder has not been received. The Veteran's tinnitus is assigned a 10 percent rating, which is the maximum schedular rating authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260. The claims for increased ratings for PTSD with anxiety and insomnia (acquired psychiatric disorder), bilateral metatarsalgia (foot disorder), and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations. The claim for service connection for hepatitis C is also remanded.