Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that additional evidence needs to be considered and the claims are being remanded for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding a diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient link between current symptoms and in-service stressors. The Veteran needs updated VA treatment records and a new psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a colon disorder, including colonic polyps, has been denied as there is no current disability.,Service connection for hypertension was granted based on the PACT Act effective from August 10, 2022.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to insufficient evidence of an in-service stressor. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified anxiety and depressive disorders, was granted.,Service connection for chronic otitis externa was denied as there is no evidence of frequent and prolonged treatment required.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.,An increased rating of 70 percent has been granted for the Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.

The Veteran's GAD and MDD have been granted an initial rating of 50 percent, but no higher. Initial compensable ratings for PVD, SVT, and IBS are also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for aid and attendance and housebound status due to insufficient evidence showing he is rendered permanently homebound or in need of regular aid and assistance.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the psychiatric condition preexisted ACDUTRA and if so, whether it was aggravated during service. New medical opinions are needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete record and a need for additional opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the current opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is inadequate and requires a new examination to address both direct and secondary service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and granted it. The case is remanded for further development regarding increased disability ratings for tension headaches and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations to assess her thoracolumbar disability, left knee disabilities, and scars.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's condition clearly and unmistakably existed prior to his military service and was not aggravated by any in-service event.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for her service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, chronic (psychiatric disability) was granted with an initial 50 percent rating effective August 19, 2020.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for this condition since the initial grant of benefits is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for an anxiety disorder due to the lack of evidence linking it to in-service stressors. The low back disability issue is remanded as VA did not provide a medical opinion addressing its relationship to service.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the case is remanded to determine if he was exposed to toxic substances during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's character of discharge for his second period of service from October 28, 2012, through March 18, 2016, is a bar to receipt of VA benefits. However, due to potential insanity at the time of misconduct, additional development is required to determine if this discharge should be considered non-barred.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional disability resulting from right hand surgeries and mixed anxiety and depressive disorder with opioid use disorder (claimed as drug dependency, mental abuse, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder) due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate are granted. The increased rating claim for her service-connected status post colostomy and laparotomy is remanded.

The Veteran's anxiety disability and hypertension are granted service connection, while his asbestosis is denied. The case for hypertension remains pending.