Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims on appeal, including obtaining SSA and VAMC records, providing addendum opinions regarding HTN, and assessing the current severity of his service-connected disabilities. The appeals are REMANDED.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), unspecified anxiety disorder, and mood disorder due to a general medical condition (chronic pain) are not secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension as secondary to PTSD due to inadequate examination findings and conflicting diagnoses.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for insomnia was denied due to his failure to report for a VA examination. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including adjustment disorder with mixed disturbances, generalized anxiety, recurrent moderate major depression, intermittent explosive disorder, and mood disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for the following reasons: to obtain private treatment records from Durham Regional Hospital and any other sources related to emergency medical technician (EMT) services, and to provide a VA examination to determine the severity of his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for headaches was denied, and his service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a GI disorder were granted. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature of the Veteran's insomnia and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service records and a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's low back condition and psychiatric disorder are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of left knee, right knee, and sleep apnea disabilities is dismissed. A 50 percent rating is granted for PTSD from June 6, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations, and a new examination is needed to determine if any of the claimed stressors are adequate to support diagnoses of PTSD, anxiety disorder, or adjustment disorder. The examiner must also opine on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD with depressive and anxiety disorders, finding that the claim was received after a final denial in August 2007.

The Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for service-connected anxiety disorder as of April 15, 2019. The Veteran's symptoms prior to this date did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of current medical records and exposure verification. The Veteran is also asked to provide information about his in-service injury or event that may have caused his psychiatric disability.

The Board has restored service connection for PTSD and granted special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ due to PTSD. Service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder is also granted as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. High blood pressure, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety neurosis, and PTSD), coronary artery disease status post coronary artery bypass, and colon cancer are all found to be related to service or presumptively due to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder is denied as the Veteran’s fatigue with sleep disturbance does not constitute a separate disability for compensation purposes.,The Veteran's thoracic spine disability is currently evaluated at 10 percent from prior to November 26, 2014 and 20 percent thereafter. The claim for an increased rating for this condition is denied as the evidence shows that forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was limited to 40 degrees at worst.,The Veteran's right retropatellar pain syndrome is currently evaluated at 10 percent, and a higher initial rating is sought. The claim is remanded for further development.,The Veteran's post-concussive syndrome with anxiety and depression secondary to residuals of a closed head injury with occipital fracture from August 11, 2004, to March 11, 2017 is currently evaluated at 30 percent. A higher initial rating is sought and the claim is remanded for further development.,The Veteran's residuals of a closed head injury with occipital fracture are currently evaluated at 40 percent, and a higher initial rating is sought. The claim is remanded for further development.,The Veteran's mild neurocognitive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder is currently evaluated at 70 percent, and a higher rating is sought. The claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding a rating in excess of 70 percent for service-connected MDD with anxiety, including whether separate ratings are warranted for MDD and anxiety.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and the need for clarification of the examiner's rationale regarding the Veteran's reported stressors and the resolution of his PTSD diagnosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inaccurate factual premise in a previous VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood. The claim is now being sent back for further evaluation.

Your appeals for service connection on various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to proceed with these matters.