Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, currently diagnosed as anxiety and agoraphobia, and left ear hearing loss. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service exposure to noise and his current symptoms.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and alcohol abuse disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support the contention that these conditions began during or are related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his previously denied claims for bilateral knee disability, left eye disability (to include residuals from corneal abrasion), and psychiatric disorder. The appeals for service connection for headaches, a bilateral hip disability as secondary to bilateral knee disability, digestive disability, and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and requests for additional information.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and incomplete record. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including an unspecified anxiety disorder, is related to service stressors.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's breathing problems are a separate disability from his service-connected psychiatric disorder and if they are related to military service.

The Veteran's GAD is granted as service connection due to the positive nexus opinion and inadequate negative nexus opinion.,Service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss meeting VA criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining in-service mental health records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA examination, and further evaluation is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a VA examination, and further development is needed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Wegener granulomatosis and unspecified anxiety disorder, both of which are presumed to be related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, as well as the claim for TDIU. Additional evidence was added to the record since the last SOC.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), low back condition, and cervical spine condition due to incomplete development of his service connection claims.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, should be remanded for further development due to failure to appear for scheduled examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his bilateral knee disabilities, lumbosacral spine disability, and anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is now pending.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for panic disorder (without agoraphobia) with anxiety and depression is granted at a 70 percent level throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for his anxiety disorder was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal during a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's initial rating for migraine headaches is denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,For his lumbar spine disability, ratings greater than 10%, 20%, and 40% are denied from November 20, 2015 to June 15, 2021; June 15, 2021 to December 9, 2021; and December 9, 2021 to the present respectively.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional evidence and providing a VA examination to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for dental condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and bilateral hearing loss.