Anxiety Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, and neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities. The claims for service connection for an eye condition, vertigo/dizziness, GERD/reflux, cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, right wrist degenerative joint disease, left wrist degenerative joint disease, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee degenerative joint disease, a right foot condition, a left foot condition, and a right achilles tendon/ankle condition were denied. The claims for service connection for hypertensive heart disease/high blood pressure, sinusitis, headaches, allergic rhinitis, and a skin condition were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and headaches, and assigned a 10% rating for right armpit dermatitis. IBS was denied, while claims for other conditions were either denied or remanded.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, depression and anxiety, as the evidence supports a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD and anxiety, as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions that meet the criteria under the DSM-5.

The Board denied the veteran's requests for extensions of time to file appeals regarding rating decisions that denied service connection for various conditions, and dismissed the attempted appeals.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's right shoulder pain with supraspinatus tendon tear and denied higher ratings for bladder incontinence, while remanding claims for service connection for hearing loss, meralgia paresthesia, PTSD, GAD, depressive disorder, and somatic symptom disorder.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection for various disabilities, including a lumbar spine disability, PTSD, left shoulder disability, hearing loss, depression, insomnia, jaw pain disability, and anxiety. The only issue remanded was entitlement to service connection for right leg nerve damage.

The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to accidental blunt force trauma caused by his anxiety disorder symptoms. The appeal for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 was dismissed as it is moot given the grant of service connection, and the claim for an earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance was denied.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, left foot disability (plantar fasciitis), right hip disability (traumatic arthritis), and psychiatric disability (unspecified anxiety disorder).

The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, for further development of evidence.

The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder with depressed mood and alcohol use disorder, as the severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The appeal for service connection for anxiety disorder, depression, and PTSD has been dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss, left ear sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and feet and toes were remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claim for a TDIU to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the impact of the Veteran's lower extremity pain on his ability to perform sedentary or physical activities of employment.

The Board denied a higher rating for anxiety disorder and tension headaches, granted an effective date of July 10, 2014, for TDIU, and granted special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria from the same date.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as adjustment disorder and anxiety, due to a duty to assist error in failing to provide a VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for anxiety disorder with insomnia, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The claims for cervical strain and degenerative disc disease, as well as bilateral upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include other specified bipolar and related disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), resolving all doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and remanded the claims for increased ratings and service connection for bilateral hearing loss, limitation of flexion and extension of both knees due to a failure to obtain outstanding private treatment records.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder for a new VA examination to address the Veteran's lay statements regarding his experiences in and out of service.