Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety and depression, claimed as secondary to pain from service-connected disabilities, has been reopened. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received in the form of statements indicating a possible causal relationship between MST and current acquired psychiatric disability. However, the claims are still remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis is granted.,Other claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and bipolar disorders), and TDIU due to issues with substantial compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include ingrown toenails, post-surgical bunions of the feet, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety).

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the failure of the Veteran to appear for scheduled VA examinations. The Board will provide another opportunity for a VA examination and review of his claims file.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's anxiety disorder and its relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected mental health and foot disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, as secondary to his service-connected hypertension, and for a TDIU rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD due to sexual trauma is reopened, and the appeal is granted. The Board also remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if her current acquired psychiatric disability is related to military service.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is rated at 70 percent, but no more. The TDIU issue has been remanded.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression is granted as service-connected. The claims for PTSD, fibromyalgia, increased rating for residuals of fracture, right ankle, DM, and inguinal hernia are all remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the issue of entitlement to a higher disability rating for unspecified anxiety disorder (claimed as PTSD) is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and anxiety, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that is related to these conditions.,Specifically, there was no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his service-connected psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for depressive disorder and social anxiety disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset in or relation to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to verify his reported stressors. The current evidence does not meet the second element of service connection as there is no credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his PTSD rating and TDIU claims. A VA medical opinion is needed to address the nature and severity of his PTSD since July 13, 2018, and necessary development should be conducted for a TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating of 70 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder is granted, effective from the date of filing within one year of her intent to file. The effective date is not earlier than June 5, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral plantar fasciitis and knee conditions, have caused her to be unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since July 19, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and need for additional examinations. The claims are related as they involve similar exposure and symptoms.