Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Veteran's left ankle fracture is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,PTSD, depression, anxiety, angina, and fatigue are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and adjustment disorder, are granted service connection. The issues of sleep apnea and circadian rhythm sleep disorder are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, which is the highest available for this condition. The Board found that his symptoms more nearly approximate the criteria for a 70 percent rating, but not higher.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as schizophrenia, had its onset in military service. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including statements from the Veteran about in-service stressors and treatment records indicating a diagnosis of PTSD related to Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD, anxiety disorder, and bilateral hearing loss has been granted. The TDIU claim is remanded.,PTSD was denied initially but reopened with new evidence; the current evidence supports service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.,Bilateral hearing loss was found to be incurred in service based on acoustic trauma exposure during active duty. Service connection is granted.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as it pertains to his ability to work due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions, including regarding SSA records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified anxiety disorder has been granted an initial 70 percent rating, but no higher. The disability is characterized by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking and/or mood.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and anxiety are being remanded due to the need for further development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, anxiety disorder, sleep apnea with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, scars, tinnitus, history of basal cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of service-connected disabilities prior to November 24, 2008. As such, the Veteran is granted an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss effective from October 31, 2002, and entitlement to a TDIU prior to that date.

The Veteran meets the percentage requirements for a TDIU due to his service-connected Crohn's disease and anxiety disorder, which prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA outpatient treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and headaches are granted as secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for anxiety disorder, depression, and substance abuse disorders as there is no evidence that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The Board also found that secondary service connection for substance abuse disorders cannot be granted due to legal preclusion.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the remand requests and has therefore remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining mental health records from DOC and Ruth Cooper Center. The issues of service connection for a psychiatric disability and special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance are inextricably intertwined and must be addressed together.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for clarification on whether any pre-existing psychiatric disorder existed prior to service and if so, was it aggravated during service. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with a VA examination.

The Veteran's low back disability alone renders him unemployable, meeting the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate as of June 29, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's psychiatric conditions pre-existed her military service and if so, whether they were aggravated by it. The case is now pending for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders was denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed PTSD or any other mental health disorder during service, and the current conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, insomnia, and anxiety, has been reopened due to new evidence. The Board finds that his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has dismissed all the claims related to increased ratings for various conditions, including radiculopathy, IVDS, psychiatric disability, and hearing loss. The appeal is dismissed due to the appellant's death.