Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), including anxiety and depression, is related to his active service. The cervical spine disability is not directly related to service but may be due to exposure to burn pits during service. Tension headaches are linked to the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and the Board has granted service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury. The claim for PTSD, anxiety, and depression is still pending.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's previously denied skin disorder claim is reopened, and service connection for a lower back disability is granted. Service connection for psychiatric disorders, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran’s claims for service connection for a back disability, heart disability, high blood pressure, gastrointestinal disability (claimed as diarrhea), acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety, depression, and PTSD), respiratory disability (claimed as breathing problems) to include COPD, left upper quadrant curvilinear calcification (claimed as aortic aneurysm), and enlarged prostate have been remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with depression has been rated at 50 percent since the initial claim, reflecting significant impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The appeal for service connection of a neurological condition now noted with headaches is granted. Service connection for the right ankle, acquired psychiatric condition other than adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, cervical spine condition, left elbow fracture, left hand condition, and left eye condition are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder and PTSD), stomach disorder (GERD and hiatal hernia), bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral hip disorder due to failure of the Veteran to report for scheduled VA examinations. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is not rated higher than 10 percent prior to January 23, 2018, and not rated higher than 30 percent since that date.

The claim is granted as new and material evidence has been received, reopening the previously denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. The cause of death was determined to be Idiopathic Ischemic Heart Disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from May 5, 2010 to May 31, 2015. A higher rating for PTSD since June 1, 2015 is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. The Veteran's symptoms began in or are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus.,Service connection for depressive disorder and anxiety disorder are granted. The Board finds that the acquired psychiatric disabilities are at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD, anxiety, and depression was denied in August 2011. New evidence has reopened the claim, and service connection is granted for PTSD with bipolar disorder.,Service connection is also granted for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for depression, anxiety, and an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD prior to November 7, 2016 was denied. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted. As of November 7, 2016, the Veteran received a 70% rating for his PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, diabetes mellitus (type II), prostate disability (secondary to herbicide exposure), lung disability, and initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder have been granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is February 9, 2012, while the effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are May 9, 2017.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service events.