Anxiety decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to outstanding VA treatment records, particularly those from a recent hospitalization.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of claims for effective dates earlier than January 29, 2018 for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The appeal is REMANDED for further development on issues including low back disorder, diabetes mellitus type 2, psychiatric disorders, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied service connection for psychiatric disorders, including Major depressive disorder and Generalized anxiety disorder, as they are not linked to disease or injury incurred in active service.,Service connection for a giant cell bone tumor of the right wrist is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen claims for pes planus, kidney disorder (including urinary tract infection), and acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, anxiety with panic disorder, and depression) is remanded due to the addition of new evidence. The issues are related to service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of February 10, 2011.

The Board has found that the VA examination report did not adequately address the Veteran's depression diagnosed during active duty in June 2002. Another remand is required to obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding whether the Veteran’s psychiatric disorders are related to his service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a left shoulder disability, an initial rating for post-concussion syndrome with cognitive disorder and adjustment disorder, with anxiety and insomnia, and a rating for tension headaches associated with post-concussion syndrome have all been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current left shoulder disability and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various conditions, including major depressive disorder with anxiety, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis of the right lower extremity, status post arthroscopic debridement chondromalacia patella right knee with residual degenerative joint disease, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with PTSD features is rated at 70 percent for the entire period on appeal, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's right-hand laceration scar is not rated higher than 10 percent prior to August 26, 2019 and a rating higher than 10 percent is denied beginning August 26, 2019.,The Veteran's right-hand disability (to include carpal tunnel) is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder has not caused total social and occupational impairment, so the claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's depression with anxiety and insomnia was granted an initial rating of 70 percent prior to June 20, 2016. The disability is characterized by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of an in-service stressor. The claims for bilateral foot and hand numbness and tingling are being remanded as the VA examiner did not provide a nexus opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding direct and secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's lay statements about in-service incidents are also being considered.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The claim was remanded for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left leg post-tourniquet syndrome.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder was rated at 30 percent prior to August 12, 2015. The disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to its severity and impact on daily life. The Veteran’s duodenal ulcers were deemed noncompensable as they were attributed to a non-service-connected condition (GERD). The Veteran was denied TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities not meeting the schedular requirements.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and chronic demyelinating polyneuropathy, finding no evidence of a link between the disabilities and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and the potential relevance of SSA records. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is being evaluated to determine if it was incurred in or caused by active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to conflicting evidence of record regarding the Veteran's current diagnosis and whether she suffered a Military Sexual Trauma event. The Veteran is diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, but not PTSD. The examiner should address whether these instances support the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with the DSM-5 based on MST.

The Board has ordered remand for a new opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, as previous opinions did not consider his lay reports and service treatment records.