Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including anxiety and insomnia. The case is remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions and their relationship to service, as well as whether cirrhosis of the liver and hypertension are related to service-connected conditions or herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability, effective February 4, 2009.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for a recurrent left knee disability, nasal disability, and psychiatric disability due to additional relevant VA examination and clinical documentation being incorporated into the record.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, depressive disorder, and agoraphobia) based on in-service noise exposure and symptoms that have persisted since service separation.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder with PTSD and alcohol use disorder, was denied. The right shoulder, left shoulder, right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities were all denied secondary to the primary disability of anxiety disorder with PTSD and alcohol use disorder. Service connection for a skin disorder other than lipoma and soft tissue sarcoma (currently diagnosed as actinic keratoses) was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information in the VA examination report, and a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disorder, bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to in-service injuries and stressors. The claims are being remanded for additional examinations and consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is mixed, with some issues granted and others not. The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disorder and hypertension due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum opinion to address the Veteran's reported hospitalizations, self-medication with alcohol and substance abuse, and in-service experiences. The claim will be reconsidered based on this additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service. The examiner is asked to consider alternative stressors and current diagnoses.

The Board denied service connection for a nerve condition and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a sleep disorder have been dismissed. The appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic Borrelia infection, chronic Lyme disease, and chronic fatigue syndrome is remanded. The appeal for TDIU prior to April 29, 2016, is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for migraines headaches and a psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the submission of additional VA treatment records and examination reports. The AOJ will consider these new documents in their first instance.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and cannabis use disorder are found to be service-connected.,An initial 10 percent disability evaluation is granted for the left inguinal hernia repair scar.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, due to incomplete examination and failure to apply the correct standard for pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's anxiety and depression are related to her in-service personal assault. The Board finds service connection for these conditions is granted. However, the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to either her in-service personal assault or her now service-connected psychiatric disability. Therefore, a remand is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of her sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders. The claim will be reconsidered with a new examination and medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor event, and for further development related to his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability and an acquired psychiatric disability due to inadequate medical opinions based on inaccurate factual premises. The Veteran is required to undergo further VA examinations to address these issues.