Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were withdrawn by her representative in February 2021, resulting in the dismissal of all related claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his depressive disorder with anxiety, both prior to January 3, 2020 and from January 3, 2020. The reasons include the need to obtain VA treatment records and additional private medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include anxiety, adjustment disorder, depression, memory loss, and sleep apnea (SA), due to inadequate examination opinions.

The Veteran's tinnitus and anxiety and major depressive disorder are found to be related to his military service.,Service connection is granted for generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for anxiety, chronic adjustment disorder (claimed as depression), and PTSD due to a predecisional duty to assist error regarding whether the Veteran's motorcycle accident occurred during active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate analysis of the Veteran's symptoms prior to February 2019, and a need for a retrospective opinion regarding his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition and concluding that his current disorders are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent evaluation of acquired psychiatric disability is denied as the evidence does not show that his condition warranted such a rating prior to November 30, 2020.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is denied because no claim was received within one year before January 11, 2018. The earliest communication regarding TDIU was on the same day as his claim for a higher rating of acquired psychiatric disability.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for SMC based on housebound criteria and Dependents' Educational Assistance eligibility are denied because he did not have a permanent total service-connected disability prior to January 11, 2018.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is etiologically related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for anxiety disorder unspecified was denied as there is no evidence of a prior claim within one year of discharge.,An initial rating in excess of 70 percent for anxiety disorder unspecified was denied due to the absence of total occupational and social impairment.,A rating in excess of 50 percent for headaches associated with hypertension was denied as the Veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed mental health disorders, including PTSD. The Veteran was diagnosed with adjustment disorder mixed anxiety and depression in August 2018, but he reported having PTSD at his hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination in determining service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The Veteran will need another VA mental health examination.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and an unspecified Personality Disorder due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as a presumptive condition due to herbicide agent exposure. The claim for service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension prior to August 10, 2022, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various conditions including bilateral knee and ankle conditions, sleep apnea, psychiatric disability, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and back condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and skin cancer were denied as there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as major depressive disorder with general anxiety, is related to his active-duty service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depression, related to traumatic experiences during active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for unspecified anxiety and depressive disorders, but granted a 70 percent rating.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received sufficient to readjudicate the claims for service connection of a low back condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder and anxiety), and left ear hearing loss. However, the Veteran does not have a current disability for VA purposes in any of these cases.