Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted. The Board finds that remand is necessary to address his claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for nightmare disorder and anxiety disorder as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions, and the evidence does not establish a link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, including depression, dysthymic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder, is now rated at 70% effective September 24, 2004. The Veteran also received a TDIU effective the same date.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder, insomnia, and anxiety was rated at 50 percent prior to August 22, 2019. The claim for a higher rating is denied. A TDIU was granted from August 22, 2019 but the case is dismissed as moot due to his current schedular rating of 100 percent and other service-connected disabilities not meeting the required combined total rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete service treatment records and a need to review newly submitted evidence, including a VA examination for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a rating in excess of 10 percent for his heart disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its interdependence with the other issues.

The Board has remanded both issues for further development and to provide the Veteran with adequate VA medical opinions regarding his claimed psychiatric disorders and sexual dysfunction condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and examination regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including whether it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, is granted as service-connected.,A 20 percent rating for left sciatic nerve is granted. The effective date of this grant is October 23, 2020.

The Board has dismissed all the veteran's appeals for various disabilities, including cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis with heel spurs and metatarsalgia, posterior thigh muscle (left thigh disability), hypertension, inguinal hernia, kidney stones, and generalized anxiety disorder. The appeals were withdrawn by the veteran's representative on September 21, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of timely substantive appeal for PTSD, but will reconsider the original claim. The Veteran's service records show he had anxiety and depression during his military service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent for the entire period on appeal, while a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain is denied. The issue of TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and PTSD, is rated at 30 percent since the appeal period began.

The Veteran's GAD is rated at 70 percent effective February 1, 2018.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to February 27, 2020 was rated at 30 percent due to occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. Since February 27, 2020, the Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent based on reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and other mental health conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, generalized anxiety disorder, tinnitus, coronary artery disease with coronary artery bypass graft residuals, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and a midline chest scar, make him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including referral to the Director, Compensation and Pension Service, for extraschedular consideration of a TDIU rating due solely to the service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and adjustment disorder. However, the evidence does not support a finding that her current symptoms are related to her military service.