Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are at least as likely as not incurred during his active military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and rating determinations. The specific issues are tinnitus, hypertension, sleep apnea, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy (claimed as right leg condition), and a psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted service connection for HIV, but the issues of service connection for coronary artery disease, anxiety, and depression secondary to HIV have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for bipolar disorder and for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, discrete from bipolar disorder. The decision is based on the need for additional medical examination to assess the current severity of service-connected bipolar disorder and whether the Veteran meets the diagnostic criteria for another distinct psychological disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now pending. The Board has found new and material evidence to support the reopening of his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, anxiety disorder; however, no new or material evidence was found to reopen his claims for hypertension, post-operative abdominal injury, diabetes mellitus, type II, and right hip scar (residual of a gunshot wound).

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD and anxiety, due to military sexual trauma. The TDIU claim is remanded as it must be deferred until a disability rating is assigned for the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and polysubstance abuse, is granted. The Board found credible evidence of the in-service sexual assault that led to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and PTSD, as well as his claim for total disability due to individual unemployability. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood is rated at 70 percent, effective March 6, 2011. The Board found the evidence in equipoise regarding his symptoms warranting a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychological condition (including anxiety and depression). The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's service records do not show any complaints or diagnoses related to tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, low testosterone level, a neurological disability, or an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found the evidence insufficient to establish these conditions as being incurred in or aggravated by his military service.,There is no credible evidence linking the Veteran’s current conditions of tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, low testosterone level, a neurological disability, and/or an acquired psychiatric disorder to his active duty service.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radicular pain or paresthesia, as well as his neurogenic erectile dysfunction (ED), are considered secondary to his low back disability. The Veteran is currently rated at the minimum evaluation for an individual with a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more who requires continuous medication for control.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and tinnitus did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to December 3, 2014. Therefore, his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disabilities, specifically PTSD. The Veteran is required to provide additional information and authorize VA to obtain any relevant private treatment records. A new VA mental disorders examination will be conducted to determine the etiology of all acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in not providing a proper statement of reasons or bases for denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD. The Veteran's VA treatment records show he was diagnosed with various psychiatric conditions during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. Effective dates prior to December 12, 2017 are not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for lumbar spine DDD and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been dismissed as the AOJ granted service connection for the psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and a neurological disorder (including Bell's palsy).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric condition other than PTSD, including Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety. The Board found no current evidence of a diagnosed mental health disability related to military service.