Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's claim will be remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Board has denied a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the issues of service connection for residuals of stroke, PTSD, and TDIU due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic epididymitis or a rating in excess of 50 percent for chronic adjustment disorder associated with chronic epididymitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim for service connection is pending and will be addressed again after further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), to include depression and/or anxiety, finding that there is no credible evidence verifying the claimed in-service stressors. The issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claim for an examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depressive disorder. The examiner provided a negative nexus opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected hypertension and his current depressive disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for insomnia and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety with mixed features, on the basis of secondary service connection due to pre-existing conditions. The decision is based on evidence showing that these conditions were caused or aggravated by other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and bipolar disorder. The Veteran must be provided with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive and anxiety disorders with alcohol use disorder are rated at 70 percent since October 22, 2018. The Board also granted a TDIU effective from February 7, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability and that any diagnosed conditions are not related to service. The decision also denied service connection for cocaine, cannabis, and alcohol use disorders.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability due to additional development being required. The VA examiner is asked to provide opinions on whether any of the diagnosed disabilities were caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service, including his service-connected low back disability and opioid use disorder.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including General Anxiety Disorder, Dysthymic Disorder, and Persistent Depressive Disorder, is granted.,Service connection for right hand scars is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome and unspecified anxiety disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep impairment, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence suggesting a possible secondary relationship with service-connected diabetes mellitus.,Further examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder, is related to a verified in-service stressor. Therefore, service connection for PTSD and an unspecified anxiety disorder is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic sinusitis and mild degenerative disc disease of the neck with degenerative arthritis, have been found to aggravate his psychiatric conditions resulting in diagnoses such as major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and unspecified bipolar disorder. Service connection is granted for these acquired psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including headaches, kidney disability, anxiety disorder, sleep apnea, left thumb disability, broken ribs residuals, lipoma scar, and bilateral pes cavus. The Veteran is not entitled to an initial compensable rating for headaches, his claim of service connection for a kidney disability remains pending, he must provide new evidence to reopen his previously denied claim, he needs to establish service connection for anxiety disorder, sleep apnea, left thumb disability, broken ribs residuals, lipoma scar, and bilateral pes cavus. The Board will review the claims again after obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and sleep apnea due to additional development being necessary.,Service connection cannot be established as there is no evidence linking current psychiatric or sleep conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no current diagnosis of chronic pain syndrome or an acquired psychiatric disorder due to chronic pain syndrome. The preponderance of evidence does not support the Veteran's claims.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and remanded the issues of a higher disability rating for phobic disorder and whether the Veteran's substance abuse disorder is aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disorders.