Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and insomnia, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and tinnitus, but has remanded the remaining issues due to lack of updated treatment records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD, a neck disorder, and headaches. The Board found that there was no confirmed diagnosis of PTSD during the pendency of the appeal and that any current symptoms were not related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting diagnoses and lack of evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed again with additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, finding no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder was rated at 70 percent from March 8, 2016 to December 21, 2021, due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking or mood.

The Veteran's GAD symptoms have most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding in-service stressors and sexual abuse allegations. The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and adjustment disorder with depressed mood, are being reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further development. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and dysthymic disorder, are being reviewed.

The Veteran's initial rating for depressive disorder with anxiety and bruxism was denied, as the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment. The Veteran also had his TDIU appeal denied due to his continued employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, specific phobia (enclosed spaces), PTSD, and claustrophobia, is at least as likely as not related to his service in Vietnam. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development of the record, including obtaining updated medical records and Social Security Administration records. The Board also requests a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disabilities, including anxiety, adjustment disorder, and PTSD.

The Board has found that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The issues of service connection for HIV are also remanded due to their inextricability with the remanded claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and anxiety disorder have rendered him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment since October 24, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disabilities are related to active service, including military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's sleep disorder is rated at a 70 percent disability rating throughout the appeal period, and his request for a higher 100 percent rating is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including panic disorder and major depressive disorder. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded, and the TDIU claim is deferred pending resolution of the psychiatric condition.

The Board found that the appellant's multiple infractions did not constitute willful and persistent misconduct, thus granting his appeal for basic eligibility to receive VA compensation benefits.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right foot disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression), due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether obesity, caused by service-connected asthma and anxiety, is a substantial factor in causing the Veteran's sleep apnea.