Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are remanded for further evaluation due to conflicting diagnoses and the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition, low back condition, cervical spine condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and anxiety disorder), and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is also being remanded as it may be secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's depression is rated at 50 percent effective January 1, 2018. This rating reflects significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of being struck by lightning other than PVD, CVA, hypertension, constipation, and headaches, to include poor circulation in the arms and/or damage to most internal organs.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected dysthymic disorder with anxiety was denied because she failed to appear for a scheduled VA examination without providing good cause.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for anxiety disorder, right shin splints, and left shin splints have been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, as he continued to work full-time or receive leave benefits.

The Board dismissed the issue of service connection for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy due to a full grant of benefits. The increased rating claims were denied, and the reduction of disability rating from August 3, 2017 to June 5, 2019 was found to be void ab initio.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of current bilateral hearing loss disability.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected sinusitis with headaches is granted. The Board resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The appeal to reopen a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a mental condition is reopened.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and PTSD are found to have started during his military service, and the Board granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the issue regarding asthma. The claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, PTSD, residuals of a stroke, and depression/anxiety have been reopened but denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hiatal hernia with GERD, bilateral shin splints, allergic rhinitis, hypertension, hemorrhoids, right wrist sprain, left wrist sprain, thoracolumbar spine disability, and bilateral pes planus were granted effective July 1, 2016. Claims for other conditions are denied as they were not received within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for alcohol use disorder associated with his service-connected anxiety disorder and depressive symptoms has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disability, anxiety. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric condition, claimed as combat stress anxiety disorder, is being remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the presence of a current psychiatric condition. The AOJ must schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine his exact diagnosis and etiology.

The Board has decided that there is clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the May 2003 rating decision which granted service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder with an effective date of August 4, 1998. The Veteran's CUE motion on this issue will be remanded to the RO for further consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) and a compensable disability rating for fracture residuals of the right little finger. The decision found no current diagnosis of PTSD or other psychiatric disorders, and that the Veteran’s fractures did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition is being remanded due to insufficient medical evidence addressing the nature, etiology, and onset of his psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression with anxiety and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from July 1, 2009 to October 14, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU for this period.