Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, IBS, and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and PTSD, is related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder is granted as service connected, with the condition originating during his active duty in Vietnam.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his acquired psychiatric disability, but finds that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA examinations and opinions regarding the severity of his service-connected conditions prior to July 31, 2020. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the increased rating claims.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for anxiety condition (also claimed as dementia), hypertensive vascular disease, and aortic aneurysm due to the Veteran's failure to provide a valid notice of disagreement.

The Veteran's tinnitus, right knee disability, and anxiety disorder have been granted service connection. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, low back disability, and hypertension have not met the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and special monthly compensation were dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and/or insomnia. The issue is now remanded for further readjudication.

The Veteran's claims for Parkinson's disease, Type II diabetes mellitus (DM II), an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been readjudicated due to new and relevant evidence received.,Service connection has been granted for Parkinson's disease, Type II diabetes mellitus (DM II), and an acquired psychiatric disorder as due to herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for tinnitus, migraine headaches, lumbar strain, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (both legs), right foot plantar fasciitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and chronic left ankle pain. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder) is also service connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since October 11, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and potential stressor development. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded for further development of her treatment records from Aurora Psychiatric Hospital, formerly Milwaukee Psychiatric Hospital.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression, as well as TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, need further examination and evaluation. The remanded issues are related to determining if these conditions are directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fatigue, muscle pain, and joint pain have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claim is being remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including a mood disorder, anxiety, and depression), migraine headaches with vertebrobasilar features, and hypertrophic degenerative disease of the back have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claim is being remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cognitive disorder and vertigo have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claim is being remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claim is being remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (LLE) and right lower extremity (RLE) have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claim is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to missing VA treatment records and incomplete medical opinions. The Veteran is presumed to have had a pre-existing psychiatric condition that did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's appeals for a rating in excess of 70 percent for his acquired psychiatric disability and a compensable rating for TBI with post-concussion syndrome have been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of these issues.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder has been dismissed because the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD is granted, with the effective date set at October 23, 2018.

The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability as secondary to his service-connected bilateral ankles. The remaining issues of increased rating for psychiatric disability, service connection for sleep apnea, and service connection for left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee, and right knee are remanded.