Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new VA treatment records not previously considered. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered with these additional records.

The Veteran's PTSD, GAD and MDD were restored to a 70% rating effective September 1, 2016.,Service connection for Peyronie’s disease with residual ejaculatory dysfunction was denied as not related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted, effective from October 1, 2007.,His increased rating claim for DDD with arthritic changes prior to December 8, 2016, and his claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent thereafter have been dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to include anxiety and depression, claimed as a residual of gunshot wound to the left side of the chest. The claim for an initial compensable rating for retained shell fragment, residual of gunshot wound to the left side of the chest is also remanded.

The Veteran's major depression and generalized anxiety disorder prior to July 19, 2017 resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The Board found no evidence supporting a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and low back condition have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with depressive disorder, NOS is rated at 70 percent effective September 27, 2019. The Board also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records, and for a secondary service connection opinion.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, TBI, and PTSD, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies such as near continuous panic affecting the ability to function independently. The VA granted a 70 percent rating for this condition from June 28, 2013.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, low back condition, bilateral hearing loss, and right leg disability (formerly claimed as right knee disability). The appeals are granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Veteran's initial rating for somatic symptom disorder with anxiety disorder was granted at a 70 percent level from April 2, 2009 to June 11, 2013. From June 12, 2013 onwards, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and other disabilities. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on these issues because no VA examiner has provided an opinion regarding the etiology of his sleep apnea or whether it is related to any service-connected disability. Additionally, he needs to provide a statement from his brother regarding his sleep apnea claim.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records should be obtained as they may contain relevant information about his SSA disability claim. The Veteran also needs to provide a statement from his brother regarding his sleep apnea claim.,VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, anxiety disorder, and lower back disorder were denied. The appeals for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and lower back disorder are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. A new VA examination is needed to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to his in-service assault.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding the restoration of benefits due to an incarceration adjustment. The remaining claims for service connection and rating issues are remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive and anxiety disorders, was rated at 30 percent since March 29, 2011. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating as they were consistent with a 30 percent evaluation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, including depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, due to chronic pain syndrome associated with his service-connected right and left foot, left ankle, and lumbosacral spine disabilities.

The Veteran's other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder with anxiety was rated at 30 percent prior to September 18, 2019.,Since September 18, 2019, the Veteran's condition has been rated at 50 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and bipolar disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence of a diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service stressors and concluded that bipolar disorder is not etiologically related to service.