Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, and other acquired psychiatric disorders not related to PTSD. The decision is based on the lack of a medical nexus between the current diagnoses and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, depression, and personal trauma is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation greater than 30 percent for PTSD due to MST and GAD is denied. The evidence does not support a finding of occupational and social impairment warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD is granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depression, unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, and anxiety, is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding verified in-service stressors.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence and unclear overlapping symptoms of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders. A new addendum opinion is needed from a VA examiner.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in his inability to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including adjustment disorder with anxiety (also claimed as post combat mental health issues, stress, anxiety, possibly PTSD), is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of sufficient evidence to decide the claim, including an indication that the current disability may be associated with the Veteran's service. The Veteran should have been provided a VA mental health examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete consideration of his psychiatric conditions and lack of etiological opinions. The claims are now expanded to include unspecified anxiety disorder, and a new examination is required.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically failing to provide a VA examination and/or medical opinion prior to issuing the March 2020 rating decision on appeal. The Veteran's current psychiatric disorder of generalized anxiety disorder is related to his military occupational specialty.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that his current psychiatric condition is at least as likely as not related to his service, including two in-flight incidents involving an emergency landing and near crash over the ocean. The appeal was decided on the merits of the direct service connection theory.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, has been granted.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent effective June 9, 2015. The Board also granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) beginning April 15, 2022.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted service connection for PTSD, headaches as secondary to a psychiatric disability, skin disability, chronic sinusitis, GERD, tinnitus, and hypertension. The claim for blood in stool is denied. The Board has also remanded several issues related to the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or a link between current symptoms and service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and anxiety disorder are granted service connection, and his TDIU claim is granted based on the combined disability evaluation of 70%.

The claims for service connection for headaches, back disability, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left and right upper extremities, and anxiety disorder/depression have been reopened.,The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have also been reopened.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's participation in the VA Chapter 31 vocational rehabilitation training program may have caused an adjustment disorder, but it is unclear if this is a new condition or a recharacterization of existing conditions. The case is being remanded for further examination to clarify these issues.

The Board previously denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but the Court ordered a remand due to incomplete personnel records and unverified stressor. The case is now being sent back for further development including obtaining missing military personnel files and requesting an addendum opinion on the Veteran's psychiatric conditions.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for heart disease, hypertension, and chest pain due to inadequate examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims.