Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD with anxiety due to military sexual trauma, depression, and insomnia) require additional development. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection issues.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss. Service connection was denied for the remaining conditions: left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, generalized anxiety disorder, migraine headaches, and sinusitis.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the maximum rating available. The Board found that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating as he does not have total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD is denied. The effective date will be fixed in accordance with the facts and shall not be earlier than the date of receipt of the intent to file.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD due to a lack of a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a VA examination and issues related to his address of record. The claim will be reconsidered after scheduling an appropriate examination.

The Board has determined that there was no substantial compliance with the April 2019 Board remand directives and has therefore ordered further development to be conducted.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding private treatment records and the need for a new VA examination. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, anxiety disorders, mood disorder, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and situational phobia, are under review.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, is rated at a 70 percent disability rating since October 29, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder is denied. The claims of service connection for prostatitis, diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for service connection of PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed again with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee condition is denied. The initial rating for GERD from October 25, 2016 to October 9, 2019 was granted at 10 percent and increased to 30 percent starting October 10, 2019. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder and cannabis abuse is not rated in excess of 70 percent. The rating for asthma remains unchanged. The left knee scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, which grants an initial evaluation for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, but the appeal is remanded to clarify his current diagnosis and determine if any of his symptoms are related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including depression and anxiety, is denied as there is no current evidence of a psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and acquired psychiatric disorder were denied service connection. The cervical spine disability was not found to be related to service or his service-connected bilateral pes planus, while the psychiatric disorder was not linked to service or his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a left ankle disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's reported stressors need to be verified, and he should be afforded VA examinations to determine the etiology of his psychiatric disorders and left ankle condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and seizure disorder due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The TDIU claim is deferred.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an additional VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The remand is necessary due to the lack of compliance with previous Board instructions.