Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete or conflicting opinions regarding his neurological conditions, anxiety disorder, and eligibility for benefits. The claims will be reviewed again with additional development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and anxiety.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination that addresses recent treatment records and GAF scores.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 10 percent rating. The Board finds the evidence reasonably shows that his migraines have characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months, corresponding to the criteria for at least a 10 percent rating under DC 8100. Other issues related to left hip disability, unspecified anxiety disorder and lumbar spine disability are remanded.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating for the appeal period prior to July 7, 2021. A higher rating is not warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically anxiety disorder, finding no current diagnosis and thus no basis for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety), right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine whether the Veteran has additional psychiatric disorders separate and distinct from her service-connected PTSD, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, are related to his military service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disability and hypertension, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI).,Regarding bilateral hearing loss, the Board finds a remand necessary due to conflicting opinions on its etiology.

The Veteran's PTSD and anxiety are granted a disability rating of 70 percent from September 1, 2010, forward.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted due to presumptive exposure to burn pits in Southwest Asia.,TDIU is denied as the Veteran has not demonstrated total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to incomplete examination reports and incorrect application of the presumption of soundness.

The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 70 percent for anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, effective from December 14, 2007, to January 28, 2021. The appeal was not about service connection but rather the appropriate disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, to his active-duty service. The case is returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and ischemic heart disease. The issues of secondary service connection for anosmia, ageusia, peripheral neuropathy, cognitive disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorders are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and whether service-connected PTSD contributed to it. The Appellant asserts the Veteran died from Alzheimer's disease and anxiety, not prostate cancer.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not establish that he is in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, is permanently bedridden, is substantially confined to his home or immediate premises, or has a single service-connected disability rated 100 percent and a separate service-connected disability or disabilities independently rated 60 percent or more.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for a new VA medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's heart condition, including racing heartbeat symptoms, is secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, is found to be related to his service. The claim for PTSD remains pending and will need further development.