Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include psychiatric conditions, alcohol use disorder, and left knee pain.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, and will consider evidence of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including unspecified anxiety disorder and PTSD.

The Board dismissed the appeals of proposed reductions in ratings for acne and generalized anxiety disorder and insomnia as no final rating decision had been issued.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is rated at 30 percent, and the claim for a higher rating is denied. The left ankle strain is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood has not been manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, so the claim for an initial rating greater than 50 percent is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including depression, anxiety, obstructive sleep apnea, hemorrhoids, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a lumbar spine condition, bilateral knee joint pain, bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and anxiety disorder is granted, effective January 30, 2019. The Board found that the earliest effective date available was January 30, 2019.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is related to his service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including persistent depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder with substance abuse, is granted. The Veteran's substance induced paroxysmal dyskinesia is also granted. As the Veteran has been granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, the issue of service connection for purposes of treatment only is dismissed.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar and cervical spine degenerative disc diseases, chronic headaches, sinusitis, right hip disability, traumatic brain injury residuals, auditory processing disorder, and psychiatric disabilities. The remand requires obtaining relevant medical records from Social Security Administration and the Okaloosa Vet Center.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted as service connected. The claims for toenail fungus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, a depressive disorder, and anxiety), neurobehavioral effects to the face, and heart disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, but the Board denied a higher rating.,Prior to March 8, 2013, the Veteran was granted a 50 percent rating for his anxiety and cognitive disorder, but not more. The Board also denied a higher rating for epilepsy prior to that date.,Beginning March 8, 2013, the Veteran's epilepsy is rated as 80 percent disabling.

The Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety, are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is granted at a 70% rating since December 4, 2017. The left knee disability claim was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder, is related to his service due to combat exposure during the Gulf War. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and higher ratings have been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records related to his anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's service connection for thyroid cancer is granted. The claim for SMC based on housebound status is denied.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability is granted. The issues of service connection for osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and headaches are remanded.

The Board is remanding both issues related to the Veteran's PTSD and depression, including a request for new evidence to reopen the depression claim.

The Board has remanded three issues: the initial rating for anxiety disorder, TDIU, and SMC. The reasons are that an updated examination is needed due to a long appeal period and missing treatment records.