Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional opinions regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, including whether it is secondary to his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder (claimed as PTSD), and whether his obesity may be an intermediary step in causing or aggravating his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on right shoulder strain, right knee disability, unspecified anxiety disorder, and entitlement to a TDIU have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.

The Board has found deficiencies in the VA examination reports and has ordered further examinations to determine service connection for various disabilities, including psychiatric disorders, headaches, dizziness, hip and knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting evidence regarding his current cervical spine disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder. The exact nature of any current cervical spine condition needs to be confirmed, and a VA examination should be obtained. Additionally, efforts should be made to verify the Veteran's reported in-service stressors related to car accidents and proximity to the North Korean border.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is now rated at 50 percent effective May 12, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's military service. The IBS is considered a qualifying chronic disability due to its manifestation during the presumptive period of service in the Gulf War.

The Veteran's claims for SMC and ED rating are remanded due to conflicting information regarding the onset of his erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression due to a lack of VA examination. The Veteran is required to attend the scheduled VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial disability rating for insomnia with short term memory loss is dismissed because the issue has been subsumed by the grant of service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder. The Veteran appealed staged ratings for his anxiety disorder under the AMA System, so this issue is no longer in the Legacy System.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, type II diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder diagnosed as an anxiety disorder have been granted. The decision is based on the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand.

The Board has dismissed all appeals as the Veteran's benefits have been fully granted in a previous decision.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, based on the Veteran's reported in-service stressors and confirmed diagnosis by a VA psychologist.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, finding no credible in-service stressor event that would support a diagnosis of PTSD. The diagnoses of depression and anxiety were also not supported by the evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, insomnia, psoriasis, a low back disability, a right knee disability, and a respiratory disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for hepatitis B and an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's current diagnoses of anxiety disorder and PTSD are unclear in terms of their relation to service.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression is granted as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus, effective March 17, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, and his anxiety disorder was granted an increased rating of 70 percent. The issue of TDIU is still pending.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) has been denied because he failed to report for a necessary VA examination.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to evaluate the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders under DSM-5 criteria and to obtain an opinion which considers all of the Veteran's stressful military experiences, including combat activity.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Panic Attacks and Recurrent Major Depressive Disorder in partial remission.