Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and relevant evidence submitted by the Veteran, including his testimony at a hearing. The VA is instructed to obtain service personnel records and medical records from specific hospitals.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating and TDIU from August 1, 2006 to July 16, 2012 was denied. The Board found that the severity of his mental health symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher than 70% disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and a back disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Board found that new evidence existed to warrant reopening of the Veteran's claims for these disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, cervical strain, thoracic and lumbar strain with IVDS, sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and bipolar disorder with anxiety disorder have all been denied. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection for tendonitis, bilateral pes planus, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and secondary service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder are both granted.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of Parkinson's Disease and any psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his unspecified anxiety disorder is dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn may have contributed to his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded this case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The VA examiner failed to consider the full history of the Veteran's mental health conditions and provide adequate rationales for their opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection and TDIU due to inadequacy of previous VA examinations. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders are being evaluated again, with a focus on their onset during service or relation to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for a VA examination. The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and cannabis use disorder, is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, specifically depression and anxiety. The AOJ is required to obtain VA and Vet Center treatment records for the relevant periods.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at a 50% disability rating, but the Board has granted an increased rating to 70% for this period prior to August 18, 2022.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis has been granted service connection. The Board also remanded the claims for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left hip replacement, and right hip replacement due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, are granted as they are found to be related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a separate and distinct diagnosis of anxiety. The claims for service connection for blurred vision, cephalgia (headaches), chronic sinusitis, and Osgood-Schlatter Disease, left knee are REMANDED as additional development is needed to address whether these conditions are related to service-connected disabilities or other factors.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder, are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to outstanding VA treatment records, SSA records, and retrospective opinions regarding his back condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, dysthymia, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder with agoraphobia, is granted as service connected due to credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's effective dates for service connection have been determined, and no earlier effective dates are granted.,The Veteran's sleep apnea claim is remanded as further medical opinion is needed to determine if it is related to his service-connected disabilities.