Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition including PTSD, hepatitis C, and cirrhosis of the liver due to a lack of clear and unmistakable evidence that these conditions preexisted military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's anxiety disorder, finding that his current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder, and remanded the issue of TDIU prior to October 18, 2016.

The Veteran's right wrist disorder is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a link between the condition and his military service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains on appeal as there are conflicting opinions regarding its onset in service.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder has been remanded for further examination and evaluation.,Service connection for a headache disorder is granted based on current medical evidence.,Tinnitus was granted service connection, effective October 13, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for prothrombin gene mutation with secondary hypercoagulability was dismissed due to the Veteran requesting withdrawal of the appeal. The appeals for service connection for headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety and depression), status post deep vein thrombosis with pulmonary embolus (stroke), and seizure disorder are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining additional records from SSA and VA VRE, scheduling a new examination for major depressive disorder and PTSD, and providing an opinion on the left knee disability. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's seizure disorder and MDD and unspecified anxiety disorder as secondary to her service-connected seizure disorder, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether these conditions are proximately due to her service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and head trauma residuals are being remanded due to the inability to verify stressors for PTSD, and the need for further examination regarding both conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for right shoulder, right hip, and left hip disabilities as they are not related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The effective date for increased rating of residuals of left fifth metatarsal fracture is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to service. The Veteran needs to provide more detail about his in-service stressor and VA should attempt to verify it.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's right ankle disability and acquired psychiatric disorder claims, as well as his TDIU claim. The VA will obtain treatment records, schedule a VA examination to assess the severity of the right ankle disability, attempt to verify the Veteran's stressor related to Guantanamo Bay service, and provide an examination for his acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for anxiety was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The claims for left and right foot pes planus were reopened based on new evidence received since the last denial in January 2009.

The Veteran's DDD of the thoracic spine, right hip bursitis and osteoarthritis, left hip condition, hernia residuals, and MDD and other specified anxiety disorder are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD from December 1, 2008 to November 21, 2014, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified bipolar disorder and cannabis use disorder (also claimed as anxiety and depression) is granted. The issue of an initial increased rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee residuals of Osgood Schlatter's disease is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety is granted a rating of 50 percent, effective prior to July 25, 2019. The other claims for increased ratings are denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, sciatica as secondary to a low back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The issues are being remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, and alcohol use disorder, is at least as likely as not related to service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed PTSD and other psychiatric disorders. The issues of service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD are being addressed.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, service connection for a sinus disability, and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.