Anxiety decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, chronic diarrhea, ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy, and PTSD with depression and anxiety, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, is related to his active service. The claim for service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability. The case needs to be further developed with a supplemental VA opinion.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability for the period prior to June 29, 2016 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to a duty-to-assist error in not searching for records under the Veteran's maiden name.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), is related to his military service and combat experiences in Pakistan. Service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder (claimed as panic disorder), due to inadequate examination in December 2019. The Veteran's mental health diagnoses include PTSD, agoraphobia, and a panic disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa was granted with a 60 percent disability rating, effective from the date of decision. The other claims were denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressor and the need for additional treatment records. The issues of service connection for anxiety and depression are being considered, with a focus on verifying the reported event.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include anxiety, depression, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. Service connection for colon cancer was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder, specifically posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety. The Veteran's service records indicate he had negative experiences during his military service which may be related to his current mental health issues.

The Board dismissed the appeal of service connection for anxiety disorder. Service connection was granted for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and further development is required. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders may be related to his service-connected disabilities, and secondary service connection for aggravation of pre-existing conditions is raised.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding various service connection claims, including for bilateral hearing loss, left arm condition, lumbar strain, left knee condition, left ankle condition, plantar fasciitis, anxiety condition, migraine headaches, jaw condition, lung condition, bronchitis, pneumonia, cervical strain, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, right arm condition, right wrist condition, left wrist condition, kidney stones, right hip condition, left hip condition, and right ankle condition. The appeals were dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal to establish service connection for generalized anxiety disorder with anxiety attacks, also claimed as bipolar disorder, is granted due to the waiver of the timeliness requirement.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, lumbar spine disability (degenerative arthritis), bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left thigh varicosities, right thigh varicosities, and tinnitus, are sufficiently severe to render him unable to maintain any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background. As such, a TDIU is granted.

The Board has dismissed all the appeals for service connection as the Veteran passed away before a final decision could be made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination. The examiner must determine if it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition had its onset during or was otherwise related to active service.

Entitlement to a higher rating for PTSD with associated depression and anxiety is denied. The Veteran's symptoms are more closely approximated by a 50 percent disability rating.,Entitlement to TDIU is denied as the evidence does not show that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to secure opinions addressing the etiology of the Veteran's headache condition and acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically whether they are related to service or secondary to a service-connected disability.