Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Board granted service connection for anxiety disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected respiratory disorders, but denied service connection for a recurrent skin disability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to TDIU prior to May 6, 2021 have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew all remaining issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia (previously claimed as paranoid schizophrenia), depression, anxiety, a personality disorder and/or PTSD, due to the need for additional development of the record. The Veteran is presumed to have been in sound condition when examined, accepted, and enrolled for service except as to defects, infirmities, or disabilities noted at the time of examination, acceptance, enrollment, or where clear and unmistakable evidence demonstrates that the injury or disease existed before acceptance and enrollment and was not aggravated by such service. A new etiological opinion is required.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The case is remanded for further development and examination.

The Board has decided that a remand is needed to address the service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive and anxiety disorders, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C. The VA examiner must consider the online medical literature related to hepatitis C and mental health issues.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the claims of service connection for a lumbar spine, cervical spine, and psychiatric disability. The appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and PTSD, is remanded due to the need for a VA examination. The examiner must consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his experiences in Thailand.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied due to a lack of diagnosis. A remand is ordered as new evidence and an updated VA examination have provided sufficient information to reconsider the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of current medical records and an incomplete military record. The Veteran is requested to provide any outstanding VA or private medical records, including those from his active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, but has remanded these issues due to new evidence received since the last final decision.

The Veteran's left and right hip disabilities are rated at the maximum allowable under the applicable codes. The Veteran is granted increased ratings for his generalized anxiety disorder, with a rating of 70 percent effective May 27, 2021.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for his increased rating claim and earlier effective date claims. The Board finds that a Remand is necessary to further develop the service connection claims on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that his personality disorder is not a disease or injury subject to service connection and thus cannot be granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically including a nightmare disorder with anxiety and depression, is granted as service-connected. Service connection for neurocognitive disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right kidney cancer was denied in April 2013 and has not been reopened.,An initial rating of 50 percent for anxiety disorder prior to January 11, 2017 was granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including obtaining additional medical records and requesting authorization to obtain private mental health care provider records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is being reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and evaluation due to outstanding Vet Center records, as well as an updated VA examination of the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder with TBI residuals.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerotic heart disease (also claimed as coronary artery disease), hypertensive vascular disease (also claimed as hypertension and isolated systolic hypertension), stricture of the urethra, and acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder and generalized anxiety disorder) have all been denied.,The Veteran's service connection claims for these conditions are pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to inadequate examination reports from a previous VA examiner. The Veteran's psychiatric disability is being reviewed again, with an emphasis on obtaining updated medical records and verifying his periods of qualifying active service.