Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with major depression was found to be a contributory cause of death, thus granting entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and erectile dysfunction has been granted. The Board found that the onset of his psychiatric disorder coincided with his active duty service, and thus granted service connection. Service connection was also granted for erectile dysfunction, but the issue is remanded due to lack of an opinion regarding its relationship to his psychiatric condition.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for major depression and has determined that it was incurred during service. The Veteran's statements and VA examiner's opinion support this finding.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, and ordered VA examinations to evaluate his psychiatric disabilities (including depression and anxiety) and bilateral foot disability.

The Board has granted service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder. The remaining issues of entitlement to initial compensable rating for residuals of right orbital floor fracture, left elbow disability, and right ankle disability are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD. The VA examiner is required to provide etiology opinions based on a thorough review of the claims file.

The Board has decided that the VA's decision on right ear hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) needs to be reconsidered due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete verification of stressor events.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to August 26, 2015, for the grant of service connection for mental health condition, including PTSD with panic attacks, nightmare disorder, and opioid disorder is denied as he did not file a claim prior to that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI and anxiety to include depressive disorder were granted, but the effective dates are set at March 19, 2012. The appeal is denied as there is no evidence of an earlier effective date prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety and a heart condition due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran was not provided with a VA examination related to his anxiety claim, and the medical opinion regarding his heart condition is inadequate.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to verify the Veteran's in-service stressors and obtain medical opinions regarding his psychiatric, prostate cancer residuals, COPD, dementia, and sleep disorder claims. The issues have been remanded for these purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed GAD and recurrent depressive disorder are related to his active duty service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent from April 16, 2012 to August 12, 2015. The Board also granted a TDIU during this period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD with anxiety and depression is a result of his service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and increased rating for chronic lumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis due to inadequate examination reports and need for additional evidence.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to support a finding of pre-existing psychiatric disability, and the claims for service connection are remanded. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder) may have begun in service due to his experiences during the shipboard fire, but further clarification is needed regarding secondary service connection for sleep disorder and TDIU.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the March 2023 remand directives and has therefore ordered new VA examinations for the Veteran's claims of service connection for epilepsy, non-epilepsy seizure, respiratory disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's OSA is being remanded for a VA opinion to determine if it is related to his service-connected PTSD, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. The examiner will also assess whether the OSA was aggravated by these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as cyclothymic disorder, is granted. The claim for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is denied.

The appeals seeking service connection for various conditions are dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his requests. The claim for service connection for insomnia is reopened, and hypertension is granted on a presumptive basis.