Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depression, are being remanded for a VA examination to determine if they are caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is granted service connection. The postoperative residuals of a benign fibrolipoma in the right mastoid area are denied, and the fungal skin infection due to exposure to Agent Orange is stayed.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded it for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, particularly Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression. The Veteran needs to provide verification for a reported in-service stressor involving his shipmate's death, and he should be scheduled for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depressive Disorder, is not related to his service-connected lumbar paravertebral myositis and fracture of both bones of the left forearm with arthritis. As such, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board has decided the case in favor of the Veteran and remands it for further development, including verifying stressor events and obtaining a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any diagnosed conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder was rated at 10% prior to September 25, 2016 and increased to 50% thereafter. Migraine headaches were not compensated until December 12, 2012 when they were granted a 50% rating.,The Veteran's conditions are directly related to his military service without any presumption or secondary connection.

The Board denied an increased rating for anxiety disorder NOS and remanded the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal for a restoration of a 70% rating for anxiety disorder was denied, and his claim for TDIU was also denied. The Veteran had previously been rated at 10%, then later at 50% for anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claims for psychiatric disability, left shoulder biceps tendonitis and acromioclavicular joint arthrosis and osteoarthritis, right elbow disability, major depressive disorder, other specified trauma and stress related disorder, and anxiety disorder unspecified have been granted. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these disabilities began during active service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations regarding his service-connected conditions, particularly those related to sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient evidence. A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was rated at 50 percent prior to July 14, 2014 and increased to 70 percent thereafter.,Effective September 2015, the Veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they do not meet the criteria for a 50 percent or higher disability rating.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for bilateral pes planus with degenerative arthritis and right metatarsalgia and hallux valgus, as well as an unspecified anxiety disorder, need to be remanded due to a lack of recent medical evidence. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to determine the current severity of her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for GAD was denied, with the Board finding that his symptoms did not warrant a 50 percent or higher rating.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied due to insufficient evidence showing he could not secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including a need for additional VA treatment records and an updated examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to establish service connection for PTSD and other unspecified psychiatric disorders. The Veteran's claims will be further investigated, including seeking corroboration of in-service stressors.

The Veteran's disability rating for lumbosacral strain was reduced from 40% to 20%, but the RO restored the 40% rating effective October 1, 2015.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent. His bilateral hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The anxiety disorder is currently rated as 70 percent disabling, but the Board finds that it does not warrant an increased rating due to its current level of impairment.