Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, are related to his active service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric and physical conditions, make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim for residuals of fainting spells, including anxiety, heart condition, or epilepsy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been denied. The Board found that there was no in-service stressor and the current disability is not related to service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for Posttraumatic Headaches, Neuropsychiatric Disorder (with headaches), Anxiety, Residuals of TBI with Memory Loss, Right Eye Condition, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Post Traumatic Headaches with Dizzy Spells/Syncope (claimed as Migraines and Vertigo), Keloid Scars, and Tinnitus have been reopened. However, the claims for service connection for these conditions remain pending.

The Veteran's chronic adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression is currently rated at 50 percent, effective September 17, 2010. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a heat injury, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and anxiety), and migraine headaches. The evidence does not support finding that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder, from November 1, 2018 to August 26, 2019, and a greater than 70 percent rating thereafter, was dismissed due to the absence of a substantive appeal.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, so the issue is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeals for an earlier effective date and increased ratings for his acquired psychiatric disability have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of representation by the Veteran's authorized representative.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and schizophrenia with anxiety, finding that there is no evidence of these conditions in service or within the first year after service. The Veteran's claims were based on his belief that he developed these conditions during service, but the medical records do not support this claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including anxiety, left knee disability, back disability, right wrist disability, sleep apnea, IBS, and hypertension. The Veteran's appeal is pending further development.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is being remanded due to the need for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for asthma and a 10 percent rating for asthma from April 25, 2019. The case is remanded for further action on the issue of nonservice-connected pension.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, particularly depression, anxiety, and alcoholism, to his service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's anxiety disorder and agoraphobia are related to his service-connected tinnitus. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD and anxiety disorder due to a lack of evidence supporting these claims. The Veteran is required to provide sufficient information to verify his alleged stressors, and VA will attempt to obtain relevant records from appropriate custodians.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, to include anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder is granted. The Veteran's hypertension claim is remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate opinions and missing informed consent records. The issues include compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than depressive disorder (PTSD, unspecified anxiety disorder), a rating in excess of 30 percent for dyschezia with abnormal anal sphincter relaxation, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right shoulder disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions.

The Board has granted a TDIU, and the claims for increased ratings have been denied. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction claim was withdrawn by his representative.