Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 30, 2013 for service connection of PTSD with MDD, anxiety, and insomnia is granted.,A compensable disability rating of 10 percent is granted for deep and non-linear gunshot wound scars of the anterior chest and trunk from September 18, 2013 to September 20, 2018.,A disability rating in excess of 20 percent is denied for deep and non-linear gunshot wound scars of the anterior chest and trunk from September 20, 2018 onwards.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for linear scars of the right knee and anterior trunk is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include anxiety and depression, and for Raynaud's syndrome due to potential new evidence of a current condition or aggravation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for a psychiatric disorder to include depression and anxiety.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a failure to obtain VA medical records from the Vet Service Center in Mesquite, Texas.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disability, right knee disability, second finger of the left hand disability, and TBI.,Further development is required to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's insomnia, anxiety condition and sleep disturbances are not related to service or a service-connected disability.,His unspecified personality disorder is considered a congenital defect and therefore not subject to service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address the etiology of the Veteran's epilepsy and whether it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, has been remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the claimed stressors. The Board is seeking additional information from the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus and a rating in excess of 70 percent for not otherwise specified anxiety disorder and not otherwise specified depressive disorder has been dismissed due to the accredited representative withdrawing the appeals.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been reopened, and both conditions are now granted. The appeal is also granted for the evaluation of left shoulder tendonitis and left clavicle spur, lumbar spondylosis and osteophytosis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), uterine fibroids, migraines, hypertension, residual scar from ventral hernia repair, anxiety, memory loss, sleep disturbances, knee disorder, and fibromyalgia. The appeal is remanded for further evaluations and determinations on these issues.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, including his inpatient ECT treatment and VA outpatient rTMS treatment. The AOJ must obtain any missing VA treatment records from December 2018 to present.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral hand disability due to additional development being necessary. The issue of nonservice-connected pension is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, adjustment disorder with anxiety, right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and other conditions were denied. The Veteran was granted a separate 20 percent rating for her right knee meniscal tear from September 25, 2019. Other increased ratings were also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives. The issues include PTSD, anxiety, sleep apnea, and aneurysm (AAA).

The Veteran withdrew his appeals concerning increased disability ratings for lumbar strain and adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for another VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder, anxiety, and PTSD. The examiner is asked to determine if these conditions are related to service or secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for PTSD and Anxiety due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was granted a disability rating of 30 percent from December 7, 2016 to April 14, 2020 and a rating of 70 percent from April 15, 2020 to November 21, 2021. The claim for service connection for CFS was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD due to a lack of adequate medical nexus opinions. The Veteran's appeal is now pending again with the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance / housebound status due to inadequate development of evidence. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and major depressive disorder, is being reviewed again as part of this remand.