Anxiety decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to her assertions of in-service sexual trauma and physical injuries, as well as her chronic pain related to a Chiari malformation. Additional examinations are needed to clarify the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety disorder, is granted. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety, was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or relationship to service. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms were more likely related to his vertigo than to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD with anxiety and depression, coronary artery disease, and ischemic heart disease have been denied. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus has been granted a higher rating of 40 percent from July 9, 2006 to July 21, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to outstanding private and VA treatment records that need to be obtained for a complete evaluation of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened, and his adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, persistent, is rated at 70 percent effective September 25, 2012.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and residuals of a head laceration or injury due to conflicting medical evidence. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder with generalized anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective December 11, 2014.,The Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder with features of PTSD and TDIU prior to August 12, 2021 are being remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with the Board's remand directives.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities. The case will be returned for further development and examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including GAD, panic disorder and depressive disorder, is etiologically related to his service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, phobias of snakes, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood. The Veteran's in-service stressors have been corroborated, and he was diagnosed with PTSD.

The Veteran's fatigue, sleep disturbance, and neurological symptoms (including short-term memory loss) are not considered due to an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multi-system illness as a result of Persian Gulf War service.,Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for Tourette's syndrome and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including OCD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood), finding that the Veteran's conditions clearly and unmistakably preexisted service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression, may be related to his service-connected disabilities. However, due to conflicting medical opinions, a remand is necessary for further development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include depression and anxiety, is granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. His bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are rated at 30%.

The Board has expanded the appeal to include all acquired psychiatric disorders and has ordered additional development, including obtaining medical records from Vet Centers and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's initial rating for generalized anxiety disorder was denied as the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's initial rating for his acquired psychiatric disability prior to June 9, 2016 was denied. From June 9, 2016 through January 13, 2019, a 70 percent rating was granted. However, from January 14, 2019, the Veteran's initial rating for his acquired psychiatric disability remains denied.