Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has ordered the Veteran to be examined for his right knee osteoarthritis, left leg radiculopathy, and anxiety disorder NOS with bipolar disorder. The issues of increased ratings are being remanded due to new evidence suggesting aggravation.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension is service-connected, but it was not rated appropriately. The case is being sent back for further evaluation to determine a proper rating.

The Veteran's chest pain is not related to service, but his psychiatric disorder was first diagnosed during service and may be due to stress. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is reopened.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, congestive heart failure, and hepatitis C due to new and material evidence. The appeals are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety disorder, NOS with secondary alcoholism and cardiomyopathy as secondary to anxiety disorder were denied. The Board found that the effective dates could not be earlier than November 29, 2012.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder, depression, and sleep disorder, are found to be caused by his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin rash of the hands has been denied as there is no indication in the record that he has been diagnosed with this condition at any time during the course of his appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, anxiety, depression, and mood disorder, remains pending due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded due to the need to verify a claimed in-service stressor and obtain another VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, as he withdrew his request. The issue of nonservice-connected pension was denied due to the appellant receiving Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits which made him ineligible for concurrent receipt of VA compensation and pension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active duty. The claim for a total disability rating due to unemployability was granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 20 percent, but an increased rating to 30 percent for limitation of extension is granted.,The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and an increased rating to 20 percent for limitation of extension is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to his military service.,His claim for an increased rating for testicular cancer, status post right orchiectomy, remains pending and will be remanded due to insufficient medical evidence on file.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD) has been recharacterized but is still pending as the specific diagnosis of PTSD was not provided in his original application.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for anxiety and depression disorder, as well as a TDIU based on these conditions, are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and clarification of his symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms had their onset during active duty and have continued since then.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than December 3, 2010 for service-connected asbestosis and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder due to military sexual trauma is rated at 100 percent, the highest possible rating. The appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is moot as the claim has been fully granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, specifically Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with Insomnia and Personality Disorder.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU due to his service-connected major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder and sedative, hypnotic and anxiolytic disorder. The Board granted TDIU as his service-connected disability renders him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided that the claims for service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder and obstructive sleep apnea need further development due to conflicting medical evidence and inextricably intertwined issues.