Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disability, diagnosed as an anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder, is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but has found that a remand is necessary to obtain a new VA examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder caused or aggravated his current heart conditions, including hyperlipidemia, high cholesterol, hypertension, and coronary artery disease.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder due to new and material evidence. The acquired psychiatric condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorder had its onset in service or is otherwise etiologically related to the Veteran's period of active service.

The Board has remanded multiple issues for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for examinations to assess the current severity of various service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's claims are not about service connection via a presumption like PACT Act/Agent Orange/Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and headaches due to unclear diagnoses, outstanding private treatment records, and need for medical opinions on etiology.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective from May 30, 2015, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims of higher initial rating for anxiety disorder, service connection for PTSD, and TDIU have been dismissed due to withdrawal. The case is remanded for further action on the low back disorder claim.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, sinus disorder, GERD, hysterectomy (previously claimed as fibroid tumors), PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, and alopecia have been granted. The appeal was dismissed for the issue of a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's anxiety disorder prior to June 30, 2022, and a rating in excess of 40 percent since that date. The decision is based on the severity of symptoms such as chronic sleep impairment, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and panic attacks.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder, is at least as likely as not related to his service. The Board granted the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The case will be further evaluated with additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Appellant's National Guard service and the relationship between his back condition, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims will be further developed with additional medical records and a VA examination if necessary.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient efforts made to verify the Veteran's reported in-service stressors and for an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, including whether it is related to his military service or dysfunctional family dynamics.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate documentation of notice for a VA examination, and further development is needed including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an opinion from a VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and potential service connection based on Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for LEFT shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with AC joint osteoarthritis, LEFT ring finger limitation of motion, and a LEFT wrist scar have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for an initial rating greater than 0 percent for a RIGHT chest scar (status post cyst removal), secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction, and service connection for insomnia / sleep disorder have been granted.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD with associated anxiety has been granted.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for deviated nasal septum from a broken nose has been denied due to aggravation of a pre-existing condition.,The Veteran's appeals for secondary service connection for insomnia / sleep disorder and erectile dysfunction have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for further medical examination and records review.