Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, headaches, hypertension, sleep apnea, and psychiatric disorders, were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing (SAH) or a special home adaptation (SHA) grant due to lack of relevant disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, PFB, and left foot disability were all granted service connection as they are related to events that occurred during his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder, is related to service. The cervical spine, hip, knee, vertigo, and hypertension disabilities are also remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with insomnia has been granted, and he is now rated at 50 percent.,The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar spine condition, right lower extremity shin splints, and left lower extremity shin splints due to lack of a fully adequate VA examination.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with anxiety disorder is granted a rating of 70 percent, but no higher, for the period prior to June 19, 2009. A rating in excess of 70 percent is denied from that date forward. The Veteran also receives a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, is granted as service connected. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms began approximately half a year after leaving active service in December 1973, related to stress experienced during his time in Vietnam.

The Veteran's forehead and left forearm scars are granted initial 10 percent ratings.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for bilateral shin splints, MDD and GAD secondary to PTSD, and migraine headache disability secondary to PTSD is granted.,Service connection for gastroenteritis, chronic bronchitis, and cervical dysplasia is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of her PTSD and lumbosacral strain, as well as an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of her back disability. The issues of rating PTSD and service connection for lumbosacral strain are being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for anxiety disorder and sleep disturbance disorder, concluding that these conditions are not separate from his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety and depression, is granted as service connected. Service connection for lower urinary tract syndrome secondary to prostatitis, urethral blockage secondary to prostatitis, chronic bilateral ankle strain, and sciatic nerve, right lower extremity secondary to lumbar spine are all withdrawn.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with its prior remand directive as the AOJ failed to obtain a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's adjustment disorder. The case is therefore being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim of increased ratings for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, is remanded due to the need for a new examination and opinion to assess the current level of disability throughout the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than unspecified depressive disorder with stimulant disorder and opioid use disorder (claimed as anxiety), and PTSD has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD, MDD, and GAD is granted based on a verified in-service stressor and the proximate relationship of his current diagnoses to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for depression, anxiety, and OSA due to a failure to obtain VA examinations. Service connection for tinnitus remains denied.

The Board has dismissed the claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and a rating increase for Generalized Anxiety Disorder as they are freestanding and lack legal merit.

The Veteran's hearing loss in the left ear is not rated compensably, and his anxiety disorder and other specified recurrent depressive disorder are not rated higher than 70 percent. The claims for service connection of GERD and ED are remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and chronic pain disorder as secondary to her service-connected disabilities of the knee, ankle, and finger.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to his service.