Anxiety decisions — 2021

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically unspecified anxiety disorder, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking or mood. The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for the condition.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD due to MST. The Veteran's reported stressors have not been verified, but VA will make reasonable efforts to verify them. A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The issues of initial evaluations for major depressive disorder, allergies condition, and lumbosacral strain are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and evidence review.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for anemia has been dismissed. The claim for a TDIU based on his bilateral feet condition is denied, and the case is remanded for further evaluation of his acquired psychiatric disorder, tinea corporis, right hand disorder, and left hand disorder.

The Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, persistent depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, are related to his active service. His claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for service connection for PTSD, which was secondary to an already service-connected condition (unspecified anxiety disorder with insomnia disorder). The Board dismissed the issue.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for asthma, restrictive lung disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder to include anxiety, and hypertension. The Veteran was not provided with VA examinations as required by law.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was denied service connection as it manifested more than one year after separation and is not shown to be causally related to an in-service injury or disease. The claims for psychiatric, heart, cervical spine, low back, bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities are remanded due to the failure to obtain examinations and opinions concerning their etiology.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD, which meets the criteria for this level of impairment.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood, and Alcohol Use Disorder. The evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD or a link between the adjustment disorder and active-duty service. Service connection was also denied for alcohol use disorder as it is not due to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with unspecified depressive disorder to include bruxism is rated at a 70 percent disability level, effective August 15, 2016.

The Veteran's disabilities are rated at 100 percent combined, but the Board finds that he does not meet the threshold requirement for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his multiple service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and major depressive disorder, due to military sexual trauma. The claim is based on the presumption of exposure to such trauma.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability to include unspecified depressive disorder, insomnia disorder with a history of alcohol use disorder in remission, PTSD and anxiety is rated at 50 percent disabling. The appeal for an increased rating has been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that her current mental health issues are not related to her active military service.

The Board has determined that there is a reasonable possibility of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, such as anxiety disorder, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric condition is related to his hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of his acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, anxiety and depression is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and proper notification of scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure by the Veteran to complete and return a VA Form 21-8940, which is needed for consideration of TDIU. The AOJ will provide another opportunity for the Veteran to submit this form.