Anxiety decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the service connection claims for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety). The Veteran's hypertension is not considered to be related to his military service, as there is no evidence of its onset during or within one year after discharge. For the anxiety claim, a VA medical opinion is needed to determine if it had its onset during service or is due to service exposure.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are rated at 70 percent. The lumbar spine disorder is rated at 40 percent prior to December 4, 2018 and the rating for this condition is denied thereafter. A compensable rating of IBS with GERD was granted prior to August 1, 2019. Bilateral hearing loss is also service-connected but not rated as it is a separate issue.

The appeal seeking a waiver of the overpayment debt due to failure to withhold attorney fees is dismissed as there was no case or controversy regarding this issue.

The Board has granted service connection for panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for depression and anxiety disorders, PTSD with depression and anxiety, low back disorder, neck/cervical spine disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction. The decision on these issues is based on their merits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disability, and back disability, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from April 19, 2010, to May 3, 2020. The Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The appeal was reopened due to new evidence provided by the Veteran, but the Board found that there is no evidence linking his current psychiatric disabilities to his time in service.

The Veteran's PTSD with PDD, formerly characterized as GAD, is rated at 70 percent and denied for an increased rating. TDIU was granted from December 1, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his left knee disability and any acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (including schizophrenia, a depressive disorder, and/or anxiety disorder), headaches, left foot bunion, and right foot bunion are all granted service connection.,Service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder is granted based on continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of in-service personal assault stressors and a need for a new VA examination. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is still under consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to evidentiary deficiencies and a need for a new VA examination considering the criteria under the DSM-IV, including addressing GAF scores. The Veteran's symptoms of anxiety disorder are also being evaluated.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety, depressed mood, and panic attacks is granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent for the period from July 29, 2005 to November 9, 2017. Additionally, entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to February 28, 2008 is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, coccyx fracture, and headaches have been denied. The denial is based on the lack of evidence supporting a link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as he is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including a mental condition rated at 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea due to incomplete medical opinions and lack of compliance with prior remand directives. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's major depression and generalized anxiety disorder are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or immediately after his military service. The cervical spine disability was also not service-connected due to lack of in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for mental health conditions, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to conflicting diagnoses and a need for additional evidence. The appellant's statements indicate he may have experienced symptoms of depression in service, but further examination is needed.