Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for depressive disorder and anxiety disorder due to a lack of an opinion linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression and anxiety, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence to corroborate the Veteran's reported in-service stressors. The diagnosed acquired psychiatric disabilities other than PTSD are considered sequelae or symptoms of his nonservice-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a left thumb disability is granted. The Board finds that an additional VA examination is necessary due to the recently received evidence showing left thumb disability. The claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral bunion disability are also remanded as there is insufficient competent medical evidence to adjudicate these claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, substance abuse, and insomnia), residuals of a burn to the face, and bilateral impaired vision are all granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for various acquired psychiatric, cardiac, erectile dysfunction, thyroid, sleep apnea, neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disorders was denied. The Board found no current disabilities in the record.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and review of his medical history.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss are also remanded.

The Veteran's chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety has been granted a 70 percent disability rating effective September 26, 2014. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for his service-connected genital herpes and TDIU have been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety as secondary to sleep apnea, but denied service connection for erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's current anxiety disorder NOS and unspecified depressive disorder are found to be as likely as not attributable to an in-service military sexual trauma (MST) incident, granting service connection for the acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's PTSD, to include anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and sleeping disorder, is rated at 100 percent effective from January 9, 2013. Service connection for adjustment disorder is granted as part of the Veteran’s psychiatric disability. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and acquired psychiatric disorder (chronic anxiety and depression) due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability. The claims for right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder and persistent depressive disorder. A new VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for PTSD is denied. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected psychiatric disabilities (Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Persistent Depressive Disorder) is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for visual problems, an increased rating for duodenal ulcer, and an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of chronic or continuous disabilities that were related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and generalized anxiety disorder, is related to his service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent prior to November 27, 2018 for Meniere’s syndrome is denied. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms do not include attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring from one to four times a month or more than once weekly.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's claims and need for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and private treatment records. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine his current psychiatric conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent since May 12, 2009. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the service-connected anxiety disorder and other disabilities.