Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including verifying alleged in-service stressors that may support a claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with anxiety, and the Board affirms that any increase in severity of the Veteran's sleep apnea condition due to his service-connected conditions constitutes aggravation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected post-concussion syndrome/TBI is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board denied service connection for seborrheic dermatitis with psychogenic excoriation and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other specified anxiety disorders. The Board found no link between the conditions and active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits, finding that there was not sufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to September 10, 2013.

The Board has remanded the claims for further review due to insufficient reasons and bases provided in the September 2022 Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The Veteran's attorney argues that the SSOC did not provide adequate discussion of the relevant evidence, allowing the Veteran an opportunity to present arguments before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of mixed anxiety depressive disorder is denied.,The Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection of coronary artery disease and hypertension are granted, but the VA finds new evidence does not meet materiality criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder and PTSD, as well as service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the service-connected psychiatric disability. The decision is based on evidence showing a nexus between the current disabilities and active service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his psychiatric disorder ratings and entitlement to a TDIU prior to May 20, 2011. The AOJ must consider the full scope of the Veteran's claim including periods before February 12, 1996.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer is found to be the proximate cause of his current unspecified anxiety disorder. His right ear hearing loss is considered a disability for purposes of service connection, but there is insufficient evidence to establish that it manifested within one year of service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depressive disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran had these conditions during or near the pendency of his claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for anxiety disorder and sleep apnea, as well as his TDIU claim due to new evidence and need for further development. The issues include determining if a rating in excess of 50 percent is warranted for anxiety disorder, establishing service connection for sleep apnea, and evaluating whether he qualifies for TDIU.

The Veteran's attorney withdrew all claims of service connection for various conditions, including polysubstance dependence, bipolar disorder, PTSD, bilateral foot peripheral neuropathy, sleep apnea, and renal failure. The Board dismissed these claims as the Veteran had withdrawn them.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, somatic symptom disorder, major depression disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, was denied. The Veteran's cellulitis of the left lower extremity is also denied as not warranting a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and clarification of service connection.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with its remand directives and thus another remand is required. The claims for a higher rating for major depressive disorder, service connection for a left knee disability, and TDIU are all being remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety disability, adjustment disorder disability, back disability, left hip disability (secondary to back), and sleep apnea disability.,The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any of these conditions during the claim period.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder, finding that his current psychiatric disability is related to his military service. The decision also addresses whether PTSD should be considered separately.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits are granted with an effective date of March 22, 2011. The Board found that the Veteran met the schedular criteria for a TDIU as of this date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as there is no service connection granted.