Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. The claims are now remanded for further development including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including MDD with psychotic features, schizoaffective disorder, anxiety disorder NOS, alcohol dependence, and personality disorders. The Veteran is requested to undergo an updated VA examination to determine these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder, depression, tinnitus, sinusitis, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the entire period prior to November 2, 2020.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, panic disorder, anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder with mixed features, is related to his in-service stressor involving combat activity while serving in Bosnia. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, anxiety, and neck muscle chronic pain and arthritis due to PTSD. The decision also mentions that attempts should be made to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors involving witnessing an injury to another serviceman during Boot Camp.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder began in service and is related to his military service, granting service connection for a psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's asthma is granted as service-connected due to exposure in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The claims for PTSD, anxiety disorder, depression, insomnia, chronic headaches, and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, specifically major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder. The VA examiner did not provide a complete rationale for why these conditions are unrelated to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examination and additional medical records, particularly regarding his reported suicide attempt in 2019.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to claims of additional disabilities resulting from a 1986 esophagogastrectomy. The Veteran's OSA, COPD, asthma, depression, anxiety, and claudication are all found to be related to this surgery.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD and anxiety, which she claims is related to military sexual trauma (MST). The Veteran submitted an opinion from a private examiner linking her conditions to MST. Further examination with psychological testing is required.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability was rated at 70 percent prior to May 27, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to lack of total social and occupational impairment.

The Veteran's schizophrenia prior to March 12, 2020, was found to be sufficiently incapacitating as to functionally impair his ability to secure or follow any occupation beyond marginal employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened, but the Board found no new and material evidence to support her claims for low back disability and residuals of removal of pilonidal cyst. The claim for PTSD was remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional information. The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his psychiatric disorder and TDIU are being returned for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance, as he is able to perform daily activities with assistance when needed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to address whether schizophrenia with anxiety is related to service, specifically during the Veteran's honorable period of service from April 27, 1978 to May 7, 1982.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including Stargardt's disease and anxiety disorder with depressive disorder. The SMC rate is set at 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o).

The Board has remanded the claim for entitlement to a TDIU based on a single disability (acquired psychiatric disorder) due to incomplete review by the Director of Compensation Service. The case is now pending again for further action.