Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including GAD, panic disorder, and mood disorder, are related to his active service at Camp Lejeune. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for unspecified depressive and anxiety disorders as secondary to traumatic brain injury, but denied service connection for somatization disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records, an examination of his lumbar spine disability, a new examination of his left knee condition, and an addendum opinion regarding his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder will also be remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than November 30, 2015 for the grant of service connection for generalized anxiety disorder was denied as there was no communication or action from the Veteran within a year after he received the July 2008 rating decision denying his PTSD claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Personality Disorder and Acquired Psychiatric Disorder due to new theories of entitlement, including aggravation by service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating of 50 percent or higher for persistent depression disorder has been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and visual hallucinations, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The evidence did not support a finding of a current diagnosis or etiology related to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as anxiety disorder NOS, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's current condition is related to his active duty service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran meets the percentage requirements for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities and is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for anxiety disorder and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher than 30 percent rating, and his service-connected disability alone did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), nerve problems with anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is granted. The Board also remanded the claims for a lumbar spine disorder and breathing disorder due to insufficient evidence.

Service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus is granted, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including intermittent explosive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, is granted service connection. The effective date for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus remains May 2, 2017. The initial rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular evaluation has been assigned. Bilateral hearing loss does not meet a compensable rating.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including unspecified anxiety and depressive disorders, PTSD with major depression, and intermittent explosive disorder, are found to be related to his period of military service. The Board granted the claim for service connection.

The Board has decided the case must be returned for further development due to insufficient medical records and a need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with insomnia is rated at 70 percent for the entire period on appeal, effective July 22, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other conditions, due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that the Veteran served in Grenada during his active duty. The Board found that the Veteran's self-reported history could not be corroborated and questioned the Veteran's credibility.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in unemployability, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this.

The Board has not fully addressed the appellant's mental health issues and the relationship between his service, discharge, and VA benefits. The case is being remanded for a new opinion from the previous VA examiner to address these matters.