Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new examination.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted. Service connection for a right knee disorder and left knee disorder, both secondary to service-connected bilateral hammertoe, is denied. Service connection for a low back disorder, also secondary to service-connected bilateral hammertoe, is denied.

The Veteran's anxiety and depression are related to his service in Vietnam, including combat duties. The Board granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined issues of service connection and increased ratings. The claims will be readjudicated after any necessary development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that his current psychiatric disorder is not related to his military service and does not meet the criteria for secondary or aggravation service connection.

The Veteran's right hand fifth metacarpal disability was denied a compensable rating, but service connection for low back and left knee disabilities were granted.,Service connection for sleep disorder to include insomnia, depression, and anxiety disorder was also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and panic disorder, is related to his active military service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War. After considering all evidence, the Board finds that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not caused by his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to non-compliance with previous remand directives regarding VA treatment records from North Chicago VAMC.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to December 2, 2013 due to insufficient evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities resulted in total unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, and insomnia on an accrued basis. Service connection was denied for sleep apnea, hyperlipidemia, a breathing problem disability, a cervical disability, degeneration of the intervertebral disc, hypoglycemia, a right elbow disability, a left knee disability, a chest pain disability, bilateral blepharitis, bilateral senile cataracts, dry eyes, and vision problems on an accrued basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 30 percent or more for his service-connected other recurrent depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's anxiety disorder is at least as likely as not proximately due to his service-connected disabilities or aggravated beyond its natural progression by service-connected disabilities. The initial rating claims for left knee degenerative changes and right knee scar are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and an increased rating for his left shoulder condition. The claim for psychiatric disorders was not addressed in detail, but it is noted that only depression was granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various psychiatric conditions, diabetes, a right knee condition, and prostate cancer. The remand requires further development of evidence regarding the Veteran’s claimed stressors for PTSD, verification of his in-service exposure to carbon tetrachloride/toxic chemicals for prostate cancer, and an addendum opinion from the March 2019 VA examiner.

The Veteran's service connection claims for BPH, HTN, and an acquired psychiatric condition are granted. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for macular degeneration, Parkinson’s Disease, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder are remanded due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during his military service.,The Veteran's claim for SMC based on need of aid and attendance is also remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's claimed service in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to service. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, including anxiety neurosis, left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, and left knee instability. The claims will be reviewed again with new examinations and additional evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression. The Board also found that the evidence supports a finding of service connection due to the onset of the condition during military service.