Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder, is related to his service. His obstructive sleep apnea is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, right hip disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including MDD and anxiety) due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.,There is no current diagnosis of a right hip disability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and associated symptoms have not prevented him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment, thus denying his claim for a TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression. These include increased ratings for the disorder from November 8, 2007, to July 12, 2017, and from December 1, 2017, as well as a TDIU prior to August 21, 2012.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating for COPD, hypertension, anxiety disorder, and OSA due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric conditions, specifically PTSD. The Veteran is seeking service connection for depression, anxiety, and PTSD, which he attributes to in-service stressors including a physical assault and living in small quarters during service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and an unspecified anxiety disorder, as well as service connection for bone fractures. The appeal was remanded multiple times but the Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to establish a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other disability.

Service connection for a mental health disorder and tinnitus is granted as of September 14, 2016. The case is remanded for further examination and records review regarding the Veteran's neck condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and hypertension, but the psychiatric disorder claim is remanded as it involves a complex medical issue.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent, costochondritis with thoracolumbar lumbar strain at 40 percent, cervical spine degenerative disc disease at 30 percent, left upper extremity radiculopathy at 20 percent, and migraines at 10 percent. All other claims are denied.

An effective date of August 23, 2005 for the grant of service connection for PTSD is granted. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder is granted a 70 percent rating, headaches and obstructive sleep apnea are service connected as due to his adjustment disorder, and lumbar spine disability (degenerative arthritis) is also service connected. Other conditions have not been linked to service.

The Veteran's claim for rheumatoid arthritis is denied as there is no evidence of current disability.,The Veteran's claims for depressive disorder and anxiety disorder are remanded to obtain a VA examination to clarify whether they are related to service-connected PTSD or other medical conditions.,The Veteran's claim for sleep apnea is remanded to determine the cause of her weight gain, which may be due to medications prescribed for PTSD.,The Veteran's claim for liver disease is remanded to determine if it was caused by weight gain due to medications prescribed for PTSD and lack of motivation to exercise due to PTSD. Service connection cannot be established as no direct link to service has been found.,The Veteran's claim for cerebral aneurysm rupture is remanded to determine if it was related to hypertension, which is already service-connected.

An effective date of January 8, 2007, is granted for the award of service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection on incomplete bladder emptying was withdrawn by his representative.,Service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder, was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for PTSD. A new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service, particularly the helicopter crash he witnessed in 1976.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, effective as of the date of this decision. The Veteran also received a grant for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for dementia as a residual of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is also granted for low back arthritis with recurrent lumbar sprains, recurring dermatitis and actinic keratosis of the skin, allergic conjunctivitis of both eyes, and major depressive disorder with anxiety secondary to service-connected dementia.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to April 5, 2010 is being remanded due to the Board's error in not considering the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his employability. The evidence shows that his psychiatric and groin pull disabilities have significantly impacted his ability to secure and maintain employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that her pre-existing conditions did not worsen during service and were not related to military service.