Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Veteran's initial compensable disability ratings for adjustment, anxiety, and depressive disorder as well as pseudofolliculitis barbae have been denied. The VA Regional Office awarded service connection but did not grant higher ratings based on the evidence of record.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for several service connection and increased rating claims due to a withdrawal by the appellant's authorized representative.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent prior to October 30, 2019, for his service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied as there is no link between the Veteran's psychiatric disability and the condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and consideration of all evidence received since the last Statement of the Case.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, specifically panic disorder without agoraphobia. The Veteran is also asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain any private treatment records from a psychiatrist in Bellingham.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable, as his hearing loss and tinnitus cause difficulty with communication but he can still perform activities of daily living and improve with the use of hearing aids. Therefore, the Board denied entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and therefore service connection is denied. The case is remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and schedule a VA examination to determine if any other psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is related to active duty.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, major depressive disorder, and PTSD, are found to be directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis disability is rated at 50 percent from June 3, 2020. The appeal for a greater than 10 percent rating prior to that date was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, and a back disorder due to incomplete rationale in previous opinions. The Veteran contends that his current conditions are related to hearing about his friend from high school who died during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder due to a lack of credible evidence supporting these conditions as being related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period prior to September 23, 2020.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including persistent depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, is granted as service connected due to aggravation by military sexual trauma experienced during basic training.

The Veteran's neurobehavioral effects, including unspecified depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, are granted as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for generalized anxiety disorder has been granted, with a 100% rating effective March 16, 2017. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.,The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to April 5, 2017, is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected mental health disorders.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical opinions and the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 70 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder, as well as claims for service connection for left knee disorder and low back strain, have been granted. The claim for residuals of traumatic brain injury was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated 100% from July 15, 2020 onwards.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service and the claim for service connection is granted. The claims for increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities are remanded.