Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's myasthenia gravis, specifically whether it is related to service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is considered new and material evidence has been received, but service connection for the condition remains denied due to lack of direct evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the adjustment disorder with anxiety & depression is denied. The decision is mixed as it grants one condition but denies another.

The Board has dismissed the claims for a rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder and the claim for service connection for PTSD due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent since September 4, 2015. The Board has granted a TDIU due to service-connected major depressive disorder prior to December 27, 2018.

The Veteran's earlier effective date for a 70 percent rating for panic disorder is granted, along with TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The requests to reopen prior final denials of service connection for hepatitis C and a nervous condition (anxiety reaction) are also granted. However, the issues related to left shoulder disability, left hand condition, and hepatitis C require further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorder, and a VA examination to assess the severity of her urinary tract infection with cystitis. The issues include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to service-connected urinary and gynecological disabilities, as well as rating and effective date determinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection for anxiety, PTSD, a left leg amputation, diabetes mellitus, type II, and liver dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder was denied. The claims for increased ratings for COPD and emphysema were also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety; a left wrist condition; tinnitus; and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claims will be reviewed again with additional medical examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including whether they are related to service.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II and remanded the issues of a rating in excess of 30 percent for anxiety disorder, NOS and entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder is granted a disability rating of 70 percent from November 15, 2011, to October 3, 2013. The appeal for higher ratings and earlier effective dates has been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection for the cause of death due to alcohol abuse secondary to a service-connected psychiatric disability. The appellant seeks clarification on whether her husband's chronic psychiatric condition during service contributed to his death from alcohol abuse.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder and PTSD, is related to her military service. The appeal for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to insufficient evidence, including incomplete medical records and inadequate examination reports.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran's claim is being returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and additional development is needed, including obtaining in-service treatment records from Fort Jackson base hospital. The issues of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, bilateral foot conditions (excluding skin disability), and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent and the Board has remanded both his increased rating claim for an examination to assess current severity, as well as his TDIU claim due to service-connected disabilities.