Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to January 13, 2011.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The evidence does not support a finding of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records and further review of his claims, specifically regarding his VA treatment records from July 2019 onwards and any administrative or medical records related to his USPS employment.

The Board has denied service connection for anxiety and depressive disorders, finding that these conditions are due to a non-service-connected major neurocognitive disorder (dementia).

The Veteran's other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with alcohol use disorder is granted a 50 percent rating, but no higher, prior to July 8, 2019. The initial rating for his service-connected chronic fatigue syndrome remains denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depression, unspecified depressive disorder, and unspecified anxiety disorder, is found to have been incurred during service and has continued since then. The Board grants the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, MDD, and GAD, finding that there is no evidence of a diagnosed psychiatric disorder at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet DSM-5 criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for depression, anxiety, and allergic rhinitis.

The Board has determined that new evidence submitted by the Veteran since the last denial of service connection for intestinal disability, prostate cancer, kidney disease, COPD, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, anxiety disorder, headache disability, and left shoulder disability warrants a remand to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these issues.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for intestinal disability, prostate cancer, kidney disease, COPD, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, anxiety disorder, headache disability, and left shoulder disability are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that is relevant to the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression/anxiety and headaches has been granted. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to his military service, leading to a grant of service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to conflicting evidence regarding his diagnoses and their relation to service. The case is now pending with a new examination required.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's dental disability and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as Generalized Anxiety Disorder, is found to have had its onset during service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been reopened, with the latter being recharacterized as a claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Service connection has been granted for tinnitus.,Service connection is remanded for various conditions including hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety, depression, PTSD), sleep apnea, prostate disability due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, a skin condition of the stomach, head disability (headaches), coronary artery disease, strokes, enlarged kidney due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, both hands locking up, gout of the right and left foot, knot under the right cheek, sea sickness, and sleep disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected insomnia disorder, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The Board denied ratings higher than the current 30 percent for these conditions prior to October 9, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development, including obtaining clinical records from Toul and Verdun hospitals where the Veteran was hospitalized after falling off a bunk in service. A new VA medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran has residuals of a head injury or TBI related to his documented fall.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric condition. The case will be returned for further development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood as secondary to his service-connected TBI with vertigo, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is remanded due to a duty to assist error in failing to verify the Veteran's reported stressors during service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 100 percent effective June 8, 2021, due to significant occupational and social impairment.