Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for PTSD service connection is denied. The case is remanded to obtain VA and private treatment records, consider extraschedular considerations, and readjudicate the issues of a higher initial evaluation for PTSD and TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, left knee disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety and depression), and a personality disorder. The decision found that there was no evidence of current disabilities or chronic conditions related to service.,Service connection cannot be established as the preponderance of the evidence does not support the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and excoriation disorder, are related to his service, particularly his enuresis and bullying experiences. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability is rated at 70 percent, but no greater, effective June 26, 1986. The appeal for OSA and a higher initial rating for schizophrenia with depression and anxiety remains pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder, are granted as service connection is established based on the current medical diagnosis and the occurrence of a recognized in-service stressor.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and a left knee disability as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder with anxiety, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate from January 1, 2007 to April 22, 2008 is denied because he does not meet the criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s). He does not have a single disability rated as 100 percent disabling and is not substantially confined to his house due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's chronic migraine headaches are rated at 50% prior to January 31, 2017. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to February 24, 2014, or due solely to a single service-connected disability from February 24, 2014, to January 9, 2017, and after March 1, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include PTSD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, mood disorder, alcohol dependence, pelvic inflammatory disease, hypertension, and low back strain.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for the Veteran's unspecified bipolar and related disorder prior to September 7, 2016 due to insufficient evidence showing impairment warranting a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claim for an examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is related to service. The Veteran's service records show a change in performance from January 1989 to January 1990 evaluations.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals of earlier effective dates for his service-connected psychiatric disorder, finding that the November 2007 rating decision was final and that there is no valid freestanding claim for an earlier effective date.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. The evidence shows that the Veteran's psychiatric conditions are linked to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, are found to be related to an in-service accident. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed because she already has a 100% schedular rating for her service-connected conditions and special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria, making the issue moot.

Service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea is granted. The issue of SMC for loss of use of a creative organ is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disability. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions to address the etiology of these conditions and verify the Veteran's claimed stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and major depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a psychiatric examination.