Anxiety decisions — 2021

The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to December 17, 2019 and greater than 40 percent thereafter is remanded due to inadequate VA examination. The examiner must clarify whether the Veteran's anxiety disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his psychiatric disorder was denied, and the grant of TDIU effective October 2, 2011 is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and his private treatment records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, characterized by PTSD, GAD, and depression. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service combat experience and his current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Perry Point VAMC and Balboa Naval Hospital. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to military sexual trauma (MST) is pending.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is granted, with a 10 percent rating. The appeal for an increased rating for unspecified anxiety disorder is dismissed.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, alcohol dependency, adjustment disorder with mixed disturbances of emotions and conduct, and PTSD, is granted as service connected. The heart disease claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is related to his service-connected disabilities and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors and the relationship between his psychiatric conditions and service. The VA will attempt to verify the stressors and obtain a medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and missing records. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, are being reviewed again with a new examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his in-service wrist-cutting injury or in-service complaints/treatment for a psychiatric condition. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's disabilities did not have their onset in service or within one year of his discharge from active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and related conditions was reopened due to new evidence. The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and claustrophobia with depression and anxiety, is related to his active service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, is denied. The Veteran's alcohol use disorder is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding SSA records that may contain relevant information about the Veteran's psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed depression and anxiety, are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that his current psychiatric disorders did not have their onset in service and are not otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU due to additional development being required.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, mood disorders, and depression. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient explanation in the September 2017 VA examination report. The Veteran's claims are not granted as there is no evidence of a significant threshold shift or change in his hearing acuity during service.