Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors and need for a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for GAD was dismissed because he did not timely file a substantive appeal. The Board also found that the Veteran met the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, which rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, depression disorder, and schizophrenia. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea (secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder), gastrointestinal disability (secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder), and erectile dysfunction (secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder) are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD with adjustment disorder, depression and anxiety prior to September 1, 2015 was rated at 70 percent disabling. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The claims for low back and right hip disabilities have been remanded due to incomplete service treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic skin condition and hypertension have been reopened, but the underlying claims are denied.,Service connection is granted for PTSD with anxiety disorder and depression prior to September 1, 2017, at a rating of 70 percent. The claim remains pending as it was not fully resolved.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and need for further evaluation of the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD.

The Veteran's disability rating for residuals of a cerebral vascular accident is denied as his impairment does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His right foot/ankle disability and cognitive impairments are rated separately.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disability, including diagnoses of major depressive disorder, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. The Veteran missed his first scheduled VA examination due to a fractured femur and an August 2019 VA examination due to inpatient treatment.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claim for PTSD was not addressed as it is a separate issue.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound rate due to insufficient evidence showing he requires regular aid and assistance from another person.

The appeal for service connection for onychomycosis, claimed as right foot dermatitis, is dismissed.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder claimed as PTSD, to include anxiety and depression are denied. The Veteran's hypertension claim has been remanded.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the right foot dermatitis issue in October 2019.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is being remanded for further development and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to make a decision on the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The Veteran's VA treatment records include diagnoses of insomnia, depression, and an unspecified 'anxiety state.' She testified that she began experiencing symptoms related to her claimed disabilities while in-service following hearing about sexual violence incidents.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorders, low back disorder, and right lower extremity disorder due to new evidence being submitted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD. The appellant is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder related to in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's depression and PTSD are related to his service-connected Peyronie’s disease or other factors. The issues of service connection for depression and PTSD remain on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD (claimed as anxiety and depression) is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.