Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right epididymal cyst, left knee disability, bilateral corneal degeneration, left elbow sprain, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeals are dismissed as to these issues.

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) explaining the rationale and calculation of attorney fees awarded in July 2011.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and low back disability are found to be related to his military service. The acquired psychiatric disorder is not considered due to a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left lower extremity neuropathy, and anxiety due to a lack of current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal before the Board could make a decision on any of the issues raised.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and for further development, including obtaining treatment records from the DC Vet Center.

The Veteran's initial 30 percent rating for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression was granted. The issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing a retrospective medical opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (secondary to bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) and entitlement to TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is rated at a 70 percent since January 5, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, finding that there was no clear evidence of a preexisting condition and concluding that any current psychiatric disabilities are not related to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include left wrist, right pinky finger, residuals of a broken left thumb, and mental health disability (anxiety).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a lumbar spine disability, and a skin disorder. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current symptoms and his military service.

The Veteran's combined disability ratings for service-connected disabilities are higher than the rate payable for nonservice-connection pension, making the claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits moot and dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder NOS, and adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, is being remanded due to inadequate development of the record. The Board requests additional medical opinions to address the etiology of these diagnoses.

The Board dismissed the appeals for various issues related to service connection and effective dates due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal, respiratory, psychiatric, hearing loss and tinnitus, lumbar spine, shoulder, hand, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and reduction of the rating for rhinitis were denied. The Board found that his anxiety disorder, sinusitis, rhinitis, bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids, appendectomy scar, right middle finger scar, and TDIU claims did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's TDIU claim since November 16, 2017, finding that his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation during this period. The decision is pending for prior to November 16, 2017.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including generalized anxiety disorder with dysthymic disorder, is granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent.