Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and a need for further examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's COPD is granted as service connected. The Board finds the evidence to be in approximate balance and grants service connection for COPD. Other issues of service connection are remanded.

The Board has reopened the claims for PTSD and Depression due to new and material evidence. However, further development is needed as VA treatment records are incomplete and a VA psychiatric examination is required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened and granted. His claim of depression with drug and alcohol abuse was granted, as well as his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with anxiety, depression, and substance abuse). The right ear hearing loss claim was dismissed due to the grant of service connection in another ear. The left ear hearing loss rating remained denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The decision also includes remand orders for the remaining issues.

Service connection for Crohn's disease/ulcerative colitis, and anxiety and depression (as secondary to ulcerative colitis), is granted.,Further claims for gallstones, bowel disorder, back disability, and degenerative arthritis of the joints are remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including chronic major depression and generalized anxiety disorder, is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for the right foot condition is denied. The Board finds that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has remanded both issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and seborrheic dermatitis of the face, scalp and ears with psychogenic excoriation of the skin due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's somatic symptoms disorder with depression and anxiety, right ear hearing loss, bilateral shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, bilateral knee degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia, bilateral ankle strain, and left foot condition (various diagnoses) have all been granted service connection.,An initial compensable rating for a post appendectomy scar has not been met.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD with anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder has been granted.,The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU prior to June 30, 2009 have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right arm numbness, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea due to potential discrepancies in diagnoses and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for PTSD and anxiety, as well as larynx disorder. Additional development is needed including a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric diagnoses and their relation to service. An addendum opinion is needed to determine if his current diagnoses of major depression in remission and anxiety are related to events during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he voluntarily retired and has no evidence showing his symptoms prevent him from working.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent prior to April 1, 2021. From April 1, 2021, the rating remains at 70 percent. The Board granted a higher disability rating for her anxiety disorder and denied any request for an increased rating.

The Veteran's right great toe disability of peripheral neuropathy and orthopedic disability are granted as service connected.,Service connection for a psychiatric disorder to include anxiety disorder is remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided were not adequate for resolving the claims of service connection for anxiety disorder, sleep disorder, and related conditions. The Veteran is therefore required to undergo a new examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression), skin condition, left shoulder condition, and right shoulder condition are not supported by sufficient evidence to grant service connection. The cases have been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder that may be present. The Veteran's discharge from service is considered under honorable conditions for some periods but under other than honorable conditions for others.

The Veteran's claims for bronchial asthma and right hip condition have been remanded due to the need for further development. Her claim for allergic rhinitis with chronic upper respiratory infections has been granted, as well as her PTSD claim based on MST.