Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The Veteran's service records do not provide sufficient evidence to support his claim for service connection.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, including his acquired psychiatric disorder and other conditions. SMC at the housebound rate is also granted from March 18, 2021.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, other than PTSD, dry eye syndrome secondary to diabetes mellitus, and major depressive and anxiety disorders are all granted. The Veteran is also awarded an increased rating for his psychiatric conditions. However, the ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities remain at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an anxiety disorder, related to his fear of hostile military activity during service in Southwest Asia, is denied as he does not have a separate and distinct diagnosis from his already service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and hair loss are remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing the etiology of these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a disability manifested by hair loss is also remanded as there is insufficient evidence addressing the etiology of this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD and anxiety are related to his service in Vietnam, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, is being remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to his service-connected bronchial asthma.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to exclude PTSD and to include anxiety disorder and depression disorder. The weight of the evidence shows that this condition was incurred in or caused by active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU prior to July 31, 2015, and from January 2, 2016, to the present is remanded due to inconsistencies in his educational and occupational history.,The Veteran's appeal seeking an increased initial evaluation for service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder is also remanded as there are conflicting findings regarding the disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety was reopened, and the issue of chronic pain syndrome was dismissed. The Board has ordered a remand to determine if the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and panic disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD. However, the case is remanded to determine if the Veteran's reported stressors are sufficient to establish a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder. The Board also found that the Veteran's anxiety disorder is aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee condition, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, depression, and anxiety), left knee condition, and bilateral pes planus have been denied. The Veteran is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, sleep apnea, and mental health disability (depression and anxiety).

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was granted, and he is now receiving a 70% disability rating for unspecified anxiety disorder. The effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied, but the issue remains pending. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also pending.

The Veteran's dysthymic disorder and anxiety disorder to include opioid use disorder with bruxism are rated at 70 percent, but no higher. The rating is granted.

The Veteran's hyperacusis and tinnitus are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,PTSD was initially granted, but the higher rating claim is denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and alcohol use disorder, is granted as service-connected.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of anxiety and depressive disorders are not related to his active duty service, as there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to events or injuries during his military service.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection of PTSD, major depressive disorder, and chronic anxiety due to the Veteran's death.