Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with persistent depressive disorder has been granted a 50 percent rating from July 11, 2019 to December 10, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied, but his claim for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (including major depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, and insomnia) is granted.

The Board has found the prior VA medical opinion inadequate and remanded for a new retrospective evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder prior to June 13, 2017. The TDIU issue is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the disability evaluation claim.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression is rated at 50% from December 4, 2013. The cervical fusion is rated at 30% from April 1, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including a depressive disorder and an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety, are found to be secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including memory loss, anxiety, depression, and insomnia, is being reviewed again as his contentions of in-service exposure to chemicals/paint fumes are credible. Sleep apnea is also under review with a request for an opinion on whether it is secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for dysthymia, depression and anxiety as an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim for memory problems was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is denied as not meeting the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent from February 23, 2017. The anxiety disorder prior to that date is also denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, and related conditions are granted. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents during service, which supports his claims for these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information about the Veteran's claimed stressors and a need for additional development, including obtaining verification of his reported PTSD stressors.

The Board has ordered a remand for the Veteran to undergo a VA psychiatric examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, and psychosis NOS, is related to service. The Veteran's contentions regarding in-service incidents and continued symptoms since service are also to be considered.

The Veteran's right thumb strain is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,For major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder prior to August 5, 2011, the Veteran was granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent. After this date, he received a grant of 70 percent for his conditions since then.,The Veteran's chronic sinusitis and bacterial rhinitis are currently rated as 30 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorders, and anxiety, is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The case is remanded for further action on his sleep apnea claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to her service. The VA examiner did not provide an opinion on this issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination. The Veteran's mental health conditions, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, are to be evaluated by a VA examiner.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents while on active military service at Korat Royal Thai Air Force base. Service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease is granted as secondary to his service-connected back disability.,Service connection for anxiety is denied because it is considered a symptom of the already service-connected PTSD.,The Board has ordered another VA examination to determine if Bell's Palsy and GERD are related to service or service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was granted an initial 70 percent rating from May 20, 2011, to March 10, 2015. A subsequent 100 percent rating for PTSD was granted starting from March 11, 2015. The Veteran also received a TDIU for the period from May 20, 2011, to March 10, 2015.