Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Veteran's nasal fracture, right hip contusion and degenerative arthritis, surgical scars as residuals of liver transplant, anxiety disorder, and hypertension are all denied.,A rating in excess of the current evaluations for these conditions is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU). The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination to assess the current extent and severity of his sleep disorder, and to determine whether he has a current psychiatric disorder for which service connection may be granted. The matter also requires clarification of the Veteran's reported in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to address secondary service connection for psychiatric disorders related to service-connected orthopedic disabilities.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection was granted, and he is now receiving benefits for variously diagnosed psychiatric disorder. Effective July 5, 2018, the Veteran received a TDIU rating based on his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran also received effective dates for other claims related to hip and knee conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for alcoholism as secondary to PTSD and cirrhosis of the liver as secondary to alcoholism has been dismissed due to his withdrawal request.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for Bruxism, TMJ disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate examinations and the need for further medical opinions.

The Board denied the petition to reopen a claim of service connection for cause of death because no new and material evidence was submitted, and found that the Veteran's anxiety did not contribute substantially or materially to his death. The appeal for accrued benefits was also denied as there were no pending claims at the time of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder does not warrant a rating in excess of 70 percent, as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment. The case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety with depression has been reopened and granted. The claims for service connection for a left eye disorder, peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremity, bilateral leg orthopedic disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, back disorder, bilateral foot disorder, arthritis of the shoulders, arthritis of the neck, sinus disorder, right eye disorder (glaucoma and cataract), erectile dysfunction, and heart disorder have been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is causally related to an in-service personal assault (the 1987 Abduction).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of current diagnoses and insufficient evidence linking his claimed conditions to his active-duty service.,Additional development is required to determine if the Veteran currently suffers from any of these conditions, as well as whether they are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, PTSD due to MST, alcohol use disorder, drug use disorder, and body dysmorphia, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability in service or post-service continuity of symptoms. The Board also found that the Veteran's statements regarding his onset of these conditions were inconsistent with contemporaneous medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to conflicting opinions from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's in-service symptoms and their relation to his current conditions.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for her service-connected depression and for TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer is granted, and the case is remanded for additional development. The claims of a higher rating for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood and TDIU prior to December 17, 2019 are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her generalized anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder is granted prior to October 15, 2020. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from February 20, 2015, is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and anxiety have been remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation.,Additional evidence is required to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder is granted, and his PTSD claim is reopened. The case is remanded for further examination to determine the etiology of his PTSD.

The Veteran's initial TBI residuals are granted at a 10% rating, and his anxiety disorder is initially granted at a 70% rating from December 20, 2012 to December 27, 2016. However, the claim for an increased rating beyond 70% for anxiety disorder from December 28, 2016 is denied.