Anxiety decisions — 2021

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder and sleep apnea before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's claim for a 100 percent evaluation for his service-connected general anxiety disorder is granted prior to February 5, 2020. The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to January 28, 2020 is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is rated at 70 percent from October 29, 2012 to February 9, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, specifically PTSD and other mental health conditions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain updated medical records, conduct a VA examination, and address the issues of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for breathing related disorder (claimed as anxiety), left shoulder condition, and right shoulder condition have been denied. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder are currently rated at 30 percent from May 20, 2016, until March 6, 2017, and at 70 percent effective from March 7, 2017. Headaches (claimed as head injury residuals) are currently rated at 30 percent from May 20, 2016, until March 6, 2017, and at 50 percent effective from March 7, 2017. The Board has found a need for new examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal on the issue of a compensable rating for infectious skin condition.,The Veteran's major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and alcohol use disorder have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas since June 1, 2016. The Veteran is granted a 70 percent rating for this period.,The Veteran is granted TDIU effective March 13, 2020.,There are issues regarding service connection for cervical spine disability and right upper extremity radiculopathy. These issues have been remanded for further review.,Service connection may be established if the condition onset in or is causally related to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, is proximately due to his service-connected TBI residuals. The Board finds that a nexus has been established between the Veteran's current psychiatric condition and his service-connected TBI.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder have been shown to be related to service, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

Service connection for anxiety disorder NOS is granted.,Service connection for fibromyalgia is remanded due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between the condition and service.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for gastrointestinal problems, seizures, and heart disorders is remanded due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's claims.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for gastrointestinal problems, seizures, and heart disorders is remanded due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's claims.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for herniated discs in neck is remanded due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative changes and service connection for anxiety disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to September 26, 2000 for the grant of service connection for anxiety. The effective date remains at June 29, 2007.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inconsistencies in reported stressors and incomplete treatment records. The psychiatric claim is recharacterized as PTSD, and a VA examination will be conducted to verify the claimed stressors and determine the nature of any diagnosed psychiatric disability. The right elbow and left middle finger disabilities are also remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically anxiety, finding no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service. The Board also found insufficient medical evidence to establish secondary service connection due to GERD.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip condition, obstructive sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. The Veteran's previously diagnosed conditions are considered current diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The VA will need to provide a medical opinion on whether his diagnosed conditions are related to his in-service stressors and MOS.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including bilateral deafness, a bilateral hip disorder, a neck disorder, a bilateral shoulder disorder, a back disorder, a bilateral knee disorder, a bilateral ankle disorder, a bilateral arm disorder, carpal tunnel syndrome of the bilateral hands, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder), hypertensive cardiovascular disease, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, a bilateral elbow disorder, and a bilateral foot disorder were not caused by or related to his active duty service.,The Veteran's claimed conditions did not manifest within one year after separation from service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an anxiety disorder, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that his anxiety disorder had its onset during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding her exposure to noise in Southwest Asia during service.