Anxiety decisions — 2020

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.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, left ankle condition, bilateral knee condition, lower back condition, and headaches is denied as there are no new or material evidence to reopen the claims. The current rating for PTSD already covers her anxiety and depression symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum medical opinion to address the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders, including whether they are related to in-service events or conditions. The examiner must also determine if any diagnosed condition preexisted service and was aggravated by hypertension.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD due to a verified in-service stressor. The claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if the condition had its onset during service or is otherwise etiologically related.

The Board denied service connection for diverticulitis and an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, to include anxiety disorder with depression disorder and unspecified dementia.,There is no current diagnosis of diverticulitis. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, to include anxiety disorder with depression disorder and unspecified dementia, is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, anxiety, and schizoaffective disorder, depressive type due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of his psychiatric conditions during active duty.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for anxiety and depression due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claims for GI disability, anxiety, and depression are pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee disability, chronic back pain, hypertension, hepatitis C, renal disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and anxiety) due to outstanding medical records and in-service stressor verification.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection, effective dates, and TDIU due to additional submitted evidence. The claims will be reviewed again with new examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including low back disorder, cervical spine disorder, bilateral knee disorders, bilateral foot disorders, anxiety disorder, and sleep disorder. The VA is instructed to obtain relevant post-service treatment records and schedule a VA examination to determine if these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Adjustment Disorder, finding that there was no current diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-5 criteria and insufficient evidence linking the adjustment disorder to service.