Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim of service connection for psychiatric impairment has been reopened, but the appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence to make a decision on the merits.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, to include as due to military sexual trauma (MST), based on the Veteran's consistent and credible assertions of in-service MST and corroborating statements from his wife, coworker, and priest. The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders cannot be reasonably disassociated from events during his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further review due to new evidence added since the Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence and additional examination. The issues include PTSD, a headache disability, and a low back disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, major depressive disorder, and opioid use disorder, was granted a 70 percent rating prior to June 30, 2020. The appeal for a higher initial rating is denied. A TDIU due to service-connected disabilities from December 14, 2018, is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining additional medical records. The Veteran's partial laryngectomy scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under current regulations. For his psychiatric disability, the claim is being denied as the Veteran failed to report for a necessary examination without good cause.

The Board denied service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, OSA, and COPD. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for stomach and gastrointestinal disorders, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (including panic disorder, anxiety, insomnia), finding that there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's right lower extremity varicose veins have been granted a 40 percent rating, resolving doubt in his favor.,The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder has been granted an increased to a 50 percent rating, also resolving doubt in his favor.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder is service-connected, but remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, which include generalized anxiety disorder, right knee ACL tear, tinnitus, painful scar from ACL surgery, left patellofemoral pain syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, cervicogenic headache, and right knee limitation of extension. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions collectively precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

Your service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety, memory problems, and insomnia, has already been fully granted with a 50% rating effective June 29, 2013. The appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for TDIU prior to August 27, 2020 and from February 1, 2016 to August 27, 2020. The Board granted TDIU effective August 27, 2020.

The Veteran's request for a restoration of the 50 percent disability rating for service-connected anxiety disorder associated with hemorrhoids, effective March 1, 2018, is granted. The appeal regarding entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent and TDIU remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including unspecified anxiety disorder, other specified depressive disorder, and dissociative amnesia. The claim for PTSD is dismissed as the Veteran's symptoms overlap with his already service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder are found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted. The claims for increased rating of left lower extremity varicose veins associated with left knee strain and right lower extremity varicose veins are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded due to the lack of a recent VA examination addressing his ability to care for himself.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her back and left ankle conditions, rendered her unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to October 9, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of response from the Veteran regarding outstanding treatment records. The claim will be reconsidered with a new examination.