Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are not related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and postoperative inguinal hernia have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a diagnosed PTSD or other psychiatric condition related to military service, and the current inguinal hernia is not linked to service.

The Veteran's MDD with anxiety was denied a higher rating prior to June 11, 2020 due to the severity of her symptoms not meeting the criteria for a 50% rating.,Since June 11, 2020, her MDD with anxiety has been remanded as well.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient range of motion assessments for right shoulder DJD and a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including scheduling of VA examinations and consideration of the issue of entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as a non-specified trauma and stressor disorder including anxiety, depression, and panic attacks, is found to be related to active duty service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring a VA examination to determine if any of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric conditions are related to his active service.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression and anxiety. The case is therefore remanded for further readjudication on the merits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, a psychiatric disability including anxiety disorder, depression, PTSD, and drug and alcohol abuse as secondary to a psychiatric disability are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The Board will seek an addendum opinion from the June 2018 VA examiner or another appropriate psychologist or psychiatrist.

The Veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings and earlier effective dates for his service-connected psychiatric disorder has been dismissed due to the appellant withdrawing from representation.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder are granted as service-connected.,Service connection is denied for the Veteran's left shoulder disorder and right shoulder disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining prison medical records. The Veteran's claim for PTSD due to military sexual trauma is also on hold.

The Veteran's headache disorder, psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder due to another medical condition and unspecified anxiety), obstructive sleep apnea, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and skin disorder are all granted. However, the Veteran's service connection claims for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, a right ankle disorder, and a skin disorder remain denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service injury. Service connection was not established for the psychiatric disorders as secondary to the lumbar spine disability.

The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder with anxiety, is granted. The claim for TDIU prior to January 25, 2017, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, which are not service-connected.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, characterized by depressed mood, anxiety, panic attacks, intrusive thoughts, sleep impairment, and avoidance behaviors, has been granted a 50 percent rating prior to January 2, 2020. As of January 2, 2020, the rating remains at 50 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, anxiety and depression. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder). The VA examiner found that there is no evidence of a pathophysiological relationship between the two conditions, and thus concluded that the Veteran’s sleep apnea is not due to or aggravated by his service-connected anxiety disorder.