Anxiety decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to non-compliance with prior remand instructions. The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, will need to be evaluated again and his TDIU rating will also be reconsidered.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include alcohol dependence, anxiety, depression, and sleep problems due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete development. The TDIU and DEA benefits claims are also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's right knee residuals status post total knee replacement resulted in a preexisting condition being aggravated by VA medical treatment, warranting an effective date of January 10, 2011 for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence supports readjudication of the claims for service connection for allergies, chest pains, headaches, sleep problems, low back disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and right knee disability.,New evidence includes VA treatment records indicating diagnoses such as insomnia, anxiety, migraines, adjustment disorder with depression, and PTSD. The Veteran's history of service-related symptoms is also relevant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including anxiety and depression, tinnitus, bilateral foot disorders, left knee disorder, bilateral sciatic nerve disorders, and sinusitis, have all been denied. The Board found no current disability associated with the claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and nexus opinion regarding the nature, extent, and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and mood disorder. The claim is being returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depressive disorder) and sleep apnea have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified, is denied as the evidence does not show occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the failure of the RO to obtain all SSA records, including non-medical records. The VA is requested to schedule a VA examination for an opinion on whether his acquired psychiatric disability and headaches are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected left ear disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and associated alcohol dependence, depression, and anxiety are granted as they are related to his service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for impaired fasting glucose, claimed as diabetes mellitus type II, and for a rating in excess of 30 percent for generalized anxiety disorder. The issues have been remanded due to inadequate examination reports and outstanding records.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating greater than 30 percent for PTSD prior to February 10, 2016 was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not show occupational and social impairment warranting such a higher rating during this period.,The appeals for service connection for low back disorder, migraine headaches, and chest pains radiating to left arm were also REMANDED as additional development is required.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the appellant died during the pendency of the case and there are no surviving eligible persons to continue the appeal.

The Veteran's death by suicide is being remanded for further review due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of his death, including consideration of service-connected and non-service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of evidence and need for a new examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and for TDIU due to additional evidentiary development, including obtaining updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective from April 22, 2021.

The Board has withdrawn the claims of service connection for urticaria and angioedema. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder/anxiety/PTSD), TBI (head injury), right ankle disorder, erectile dysfunction (ED), chronic pain syndrome, hypertension, digestive disorder, and sleep disorder have been remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for anxiety, depression, and insomnia due to a need for additional medical evaluation and clarification regarding the relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.