Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 22, 2021.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are granted. His obstructive sleep apnea is also granted as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric conditions. Right knee degenerative arthritis, right knee strain, and right knee meniscal tear are all granted. Left knee degenerative arthritis and left knee strain are granted. Low back disabilities are granted. The Veteran's lateral collateral ligament sprain of the left ankle is granted as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. His bilateral plantar fasciitis rating from December 3, 2019, is increased to 50%.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and alcohol abuse, effective from April 20, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and/or depression, are remanded due to the lack of current evidence of a diagnosed condition. The Board requests further development to obtain relevant in-service records and non-VA treatment records from specific counties.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service experience of discovering a dead roommate's body.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his service-connected psychiatric disorder, which includes insomnia disorder, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, was denied. The rating prior to September 17, 2016, is denied.,From September 17, 2016, the Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected psychiatric disability was also denied.

Service connection is granted for eczema, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder), erectile dysfunction as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder, lateral collateral ligament sprain of the left ankle, medial epicondylitis of the right elbow, rotator cuff tear of the left shoulder, and patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee.,The claims for service connection for residuals of Lyme's disease or related infectious disease and a TBI or other impairment of the brain as a result of a motor vehicle accident (MVA) are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety and depression, finding no evidence of an in-service disease or injury related to these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, MDD, and anxiety, are found to be related to her service. After considering all the evidence, the Board has determined that these conditions should be considered as service-connected.

The rating reduction of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss from 30 percent to 10 percent was not proper, and therefore, the 30 percent rating is restored.,From March 6, 2018, the criteria for an initial rating of 100 percent for aortic aneurysm associated with high cholesterol have been met.,From March 6, 2018, the Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.,The Veteran is entitled to an effective date prior to September 14, 2021 for a 100 percent rating for his heart disability due to service connection being granted within one year of the initial grant of service connection.,An earlier effective date of March 6, 2018 for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance is granted.

The Board has found the VA Centralized Eligibility and Appeals Team (CEAT) review inadequate to support the decision made, as it did not address significant medical evidence concerning whether the Veteran may require daily assistance to complete an ADL or a need for supervision, protection, or instruction. The matter is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and anxiety condition, is granted. The Board finds a pre-decisional duty to assist error due to the lack of an adequate opinion regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for Parkinson's disease, pulmonary embolism, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and erectile dysfunction due to an error in obtaining relevant VA treatment records from 2011 to 2018. A new medical opinion is also needed regarding whether these conditions are linked to the Veteran's in-service chemical exposures.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and anxiety, due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric diagnoses other than PTSD. The claim will be reconsidered with additional development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for generalized anxiety with panic attacks, finding that there is no evidence of a chronicity of symptoms after service and no nexus to active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder has been dismissed as the condition was already granted in a prior rating decision.,Service connection is granted for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, with consideration given to continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, which includes anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances, was found to have a severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms that more closely approximated the level associated with a 50 percent rating. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent due to lack of evidence showing deficiencies in most areas such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's contention that his psychiatric disability is secondary to service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).