Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the VA opinion obtained in December 2018 is inadequate and requires a new examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service, specifically the stressors of his wife having two miscarriages while he was in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to procedural errors in obtaining necessary evidence.,Additional medical records, including STRs and treatment records from Tampa General Hospital and Texas General Hospital, need to be obtained.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD is granted, and his headaches are not rated compensably. The bilateral knee disorder, left hip tenosynovitis with limitation of extension, left hip tenosynovitis with limited flexion, left hip tenosynovitis with painful motion, unspecified anxiety disorder, and TDIU issues have been remanded for further review.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood to include traumatic brain injury was granted an initial rating of 70 percent. The Veteran's primary headaches were denied a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for both the hearing loss and psychiatric disorder claims, as new examinations are required to determine if there is a current disability related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause and aggravation of the Veteran's chest pain, which is currently service-connected. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's initial rating for the psychiatric disorder is denied, and a higher rating of 70% is also denied. For the increased rating period on appeal from January 11, 2018, a 20% disability rating for right knee meniscus tear and ACL repair is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for further analysis of the Veteran's claim for service connection for insomnia and sleep deprivation with anxiety as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. The claims are now remanded for further review by the AOJ.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted entitlement to total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric conditions have rendered him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment, and he is granted a TDIU. Additionally, the Veteran is granted SMC effective October 28, 2021.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for PTSD, anxiety, and MDD (now psychiatric disorder), and for a head injury/TBI. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at a 70 percent disability rating for the entire period on appeal. The hearing loss and hemorrhoids claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, previously listed as anxiety, is reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The case is remanded for further evaluation and a nexus opinion from an appropriate clinician.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension, as secondary to a service-connected condition. The claims are being remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records, lack of proper notification for a scheduled VA examination, and the need for further development regarding toxic exposure in Saudi Arabia under the PACT Act.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for PTSD, agoraphobia, anxiety disorder, depression, and hypertension. The decision also includes a request for additional development regarding these matters.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death, as they have no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's schizophrenia, residual type, with anxiety disorder prior to December 7, 2011 was not productive of occupational and social impairment that would warrant a higher rating than 50 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, anxiety and depressive disorder. The decision also reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and depression and anxiety disorder. The claims are now remanded for further development.