Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression has been reopened. The Board finds new and material evidence has been received and remands the case for further development including verification of reported stressors and a VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for anxiety/depression and diabetes mellitus type II is denied.,Service connection for fibromyalgia is remanded due to lack of a VA examination opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical and lumbar spine disorders, tremor disorder, and psychiatric disorders to include PTSD, MDD, and GAD due to their secondary nature to service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to May 21, 2016. The Board dismissed the appeal as per the Veteran's request.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and obstructive sleep apnea, finding insufficient rationale in previous opinions and issues of inextricability with another pending appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The examiner is asked to consider delayed onset psychiatric disorders and potential exposure to herbicide agents or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, finding that his symptoms of anxiety, depression, and panic attacks are manifestations of his already service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and anxiety, as well as a herniated disc in the thoracolumbar spine, were previously denied. New evidence was submitted to reopen these claims, but it did not provide sufficient material to substantiate them.,A rating of 20 percent has been assigned for bilateral hearing loss since July 21, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for neuropathy of the lower extremities, upper extremities (carpal tunnel syndrome), and a psychiatric disorder have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's bilateral calcaneal spurs and PTSD were denied, while the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (adjustment disorder, mood disorder, and anxiety disorder) and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was remanded.,Service connection for bilateral calcaneal spurs and PTSD were not granted due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome are pending further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic upper respiratory infection, acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and PTSD), degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, and cervical spine condition secondary to low back injury due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective May 26, 2011, based on the combined effects of service-connected disabilities rendering the Veteran incapable of substantial gainful employment.

The Veteran's depressive disorder, anxiety disorder with agoraphobia, and PTSD have resulted in a 70 percent disability rating for depression from October 7, 2009. The decision also granted TDIU effective October 7, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a cardiovascular disability (claimed as heart disease) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his deployment to Southwest Asia.

The Board has determined that the remand is necessary due to inadequate opinions provided by the VA examiner regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically his social and occupational functioning.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, and anxiety disorder, as well as his claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The VA is required to obtain updated treatment records, verify the in-service stressor, and provide a new examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders and OSA.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and entitlement to a TDIU due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to his in-service tinnitus, sleep disorder, or other factors.

The Veteran's MDD is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD, and the claim for service connection of MDD is granted. The Veteran's back disability (claimed as lumbar radiculopathy) is also granted due to its being related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder, right lower extremity nerve disorder (claimed as neuropathy), right knee disability, left knee disability, and anxiety. The evidence does not support a current diagnosis of these conditions.