Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, Major Depression, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder based on a confirmed in-service stressor related to the Veteran's sexual assault. The conditions are presumed due to the nature of the injury.

The Board dismissed the appeals as to whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for bilateral knee disability and acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeal was also dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for depression, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have been reopened. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination by a qualified specialist to determine the severity of all residuals of the Veteran's TBI and whether his PTSD symptoms overlap with or are distinct from his TBI symptoms. The matter remains on appeal as it pertains to service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his current mental health issues are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with stenosis, status post decompression and an other specified anxiety disorder as secondary to his now service-connected lumbar spine disability. The decision is based on evidence that supports a finding of service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's mental health conditions, specifically PTSD and depression. The VA will need to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, chronic headaches, and psychiatric disabilities. The claims are being returned to the RO for additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including headache disorders, cardiovascular disorders, sleep disorders, dizziness, visual disorders, and psychiatric disorders. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to in-service events.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied because he did not provide sufficient information about his employment history, and thus failed to meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is rated at 70 percent, the highest schedular rating available.

The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder, degenerative arthritis of the spine, GERD and hiatal hernia, and migraine headaches require further evaluation due to lack of recent VA examinations.,Additional medical evidence may be needed for a proper assessment.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for anxiety disorder and bilateral inguinal hernia are being remanded due to the need for additional development of the medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and arranging for an addendum to the January 2021 VA examination report. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, an acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder, anxiety, and depression), and lumbar spine osteoarthritis. The criteria for direct service connection have been met in all cases.

The Board has remanded the claims for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, anxiety disorder, and evaluation of degenerative changes in the Veteran's shoulders due to insufficient evidence. The issues have not been decided yet.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's reported stressors and a need for further psychiatric evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of his service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood is granted from March 26, 2020. The claims for hypertension, stroke (secondary to hypertension), loss of use of upper extremities, loss of use of lower extremities, and automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder with posttraumatic and anxiety features and alcohol abuse disorder is found to be aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, leading to the grant of service connection for these conditions. The issues regarding hypertension and heart condition are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient consideration of diagnoses and stressors, as well as secondary service connection based on medications used to treat psychiatric disorders. The VA will obtain additional medical records and provide new opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, ED, and GI disorder.