Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD and anxiety disorder, was granted a 70 percent initial rating prior to July 2012. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has been rendered moot due to the grant of this higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood, and Sleep Disorder. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not shown to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to an inextricably intertwined issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran testified that he was assaulted during military service and his mental health affects his ability to work.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension due to additional development being necessary. The issues are related as they involve similar time periods of service.

The appeal for diabetes mellitus is dismissed as service connection was granted. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD remains on appeal.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease and lumbosacral strain, along with associated left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, are granted service connection.,The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with his lumbar degenerative disc disease and lumbosacral strain are also granted service connection.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, other than residuals of meningitis to include organic brain disease is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation from May 30, 2008, to October 18, 2011. TDIU on an extraschedular basis is granted for this period.

The Veteran's appeal of liver damage and migraine headaches service connection claims are dismissed.,Service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include anxiety and depression, is granted. Service connection for sleep apnea is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of their service-connected pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, left knee disability, and right knee disability have been denied. The Veteran was granted a 50 percent evaluation prior to January 30, 2020 for their psychiatric disability.,From January 30, 2020 onwards, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating of their psychiatric disability has not met the criteria.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain complete service personnel and treatment records, including those from Reserve or National Guard service. The appellant's dates of active duty, annual training, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA need to be confirmed.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's hepatitis claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hepatitis.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his hearing loss began during service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's personality disorder and low sex drive claims are withdrawn by the appellant.,The Veteran's balance issue claim is remanded for further examination to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus claim is remanded as VA records need to be obtained and a medical opinion provided regarding its onset and relationship to service.,The Veteran's hypertension claim is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined nature with his diabetes mellitus claim.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation) claim is withdrawn by the appellant.,The Veteran's narcolepsy claim is remanded for further examination to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's insomnia claim is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined nature with his back and left knee disability claims.,The Veteran's chronic fatigue claim is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined nature with his acquired psychiatric disability (depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation) claim.,The Veteran's back disability claim is remanded for further examination to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's left knee disability claim is remanded for further examination to determine its etiology.

The Board has remanded the cases of cervical spine disability, depressive disorder with anxiety, and glaucoma for further development.

The Veteran's previously denied claims for sleep disability, anxiety, pes planus, left knee disability, right knee disability, and back disability are reopened. The appeals for these issues are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, specifically PTSD and adjustment disorder. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if he meets the criteria for PTSD under DSM-5 and whether his current conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted as service connected due to a valid fear of hostile enemy or terrorist action in Panama.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance/housebound status due to her ability to perform many activities of daily living with assistance when needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his vocational rehabilitation records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hemorrhoids is denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, Major depression, and generalized anxiety disorder, is also denied due to lack of credible evidence linking the conditions to active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Depressive Disorder), a respiratory disorder, headaches, and muscle pain. The diagnoses are related to in-service stressors during the Gulf War.