Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and hypertension are granted for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since June 11, 2010. The Board found that the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and social isolation have persisted throughout the appeal period, warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety, is found to be attributable to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression and anxiety, due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's anxiety and other psychiatric disorders. The Veteran is requested to provide additional information and authorize VA to obtain any relevant records, including private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is reopened due to new evidence showing a link between his service-connected sinusitis and his headaches. The claims for higher ratings for various disabilities, including psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, rhinitis, hemorrhoids, appendectomy residuals, scar of the right middle finger, obstructive sleep apnea, and TDIU are all remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD but has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include depressive disorder NOS and anxiety disorder NOS.

The Board denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to October 14, 2010 because the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood has been rated at 70 percent, but the Board is remanding to consider a higher rating.

Service connection for a bilateral elbow disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, eye disability, sleep apnea, hypertension, sinus disorder, cholesterol, and bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for anxiety disorder is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder and persistent depressive disorder (previously rated as dysthymia), has been rated at 50 percent since February 8, 2012. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection claims, including those related to hypertension, heart disability (atrial fibrillation), and hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the claims for rhinitis and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression) due to insufficient evidence of record. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to determine if he currently has these conditions, and whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions. Service connection will be determined based on the merits of each claim.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS and PTSD have been granted with increased ratings, including a 50% rating from June 29, 2012 to January 17, 2017, and a 70% rating since then. He has also been granted TDIU effective June 29, 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD and anxiety disorder are service-connected, but his back disability is not. The right shoulder disability has been rated at 20% since April 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA mental health examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorder had its onset in service or is related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety disorder, and insomnia, is granted service connection. Headaches are also granted as secondary to the now service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sinusitis (now recharacterized as an upper respiratory disability) has been reopened and granted. The claims for service connection for sleep apnea, fibroids, anxiety disorder, left hip limitation of flexion and extension, right hip limitation of flexion and extension, and lumbar spine disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection. The acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depressive disorders) is denied service connection. A rating in excess of 20 percent for hemorrhoids is denied.