Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including disc disease, is denied because the condition did not manifest during service and there is no evidence of an in-service injury or event. The current condition is related to post-service injuries.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure. The increased rating claims for knees and the psychiatric disorder are remanded, as well as the claim for service connection for colon cancer and headaches.

The Veteran's depressive disorder NOS and anxiety disorder NOS have been granted an initial rating of 70 percent effective July 7, 2011. A 100 percent rating is granted from March 13, 2018.

The Board has remanded several issues, including increased ratings for generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks and right ear hearing loss, service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, and a TDIU claim. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records and undergo new examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for hearing loss and tinnitus is granted. The claims of service connection for various conditions, including bone islands, red blood cell condition, high liver levels, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and anxiety), high muscle enzymes, joint pain, teeth loss, back and spinal degeneration, sinusitis, asthma, fungus of the feet, deformity of the toes, left foot, deformity of the toes, right foot, and sleep apnea are remanded due to lack of sufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability results in total occupational and social impairment, but he does not have current diagnoses of the claimed disorders. His claims for TBI (claimed as short and long-term memory loss), speech disorder, headaches, anxiety, and balance disorder are denied.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Board has determined that a statement of the case must be issued due to the timely notice of disagreement and the need to address this issue.

The Veteran's asthma, anxiety disorder, and sinus headaches have been granted service connection. The rating for sinus headaches has been increased to 30 percent. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70% disability rating for unspecified anxiety disorder is denied as there was no factual basis to assign the rating prior to July 8, 2014.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, categorized as anxiety disorder with obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic attacks, is rated at 50% prior to September 16, 2008, and remains at that rating from that date. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating and TDIU benefits related to his service-connected chronic adjustment disorder with anxiety, depression, and paranoia is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 14, 2015 and May 11, 2016 for service connection due to lack of formal or informal claims before those dates. The case is remanded for issuance of a Statement of the Case on the issue of an effective date prior to May 11, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for an initial compensable evaluation for anxiety disorder and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities because there is insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's mental health conditions. A new VA examination is needed, and the issues are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for further development and opinion regarding the Veteran's left hip condition and acquired psychiatric disorders, other than PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for service connection of PTSD, Major Depression, and Anxiety related to his combat service in Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a VA examination. The issues are also remanded for consideration of entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an inguinal hernia, bilateral ankle disorder, insomnia, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) due to lack of evidence supporting service connection.,Service connection is not granted for any of these conditions as there is no credible evidence linking them to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, service connection for an eye disability and memory loss condition, as well as the effective date of TDIU. Additional evidence will be reviewed, and VA examinations will be scheduled to assess the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a stomach disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board grants this issue.,The Veteran's claims regarding sleep apnea, right knee disabilities, left knee disabilities, right foot hallux valgus, left foot hallux valgus, lumbar paravertebral fibromyositis, and anxiety disorder are all remanded for further development.