Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorder was denied. The effective date of the grant is set at November 4, 2009.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, anxiety, depressive disorder, and a sleep disorder is granted. The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, compensable rating for chronic right inguinal ligament and chronic right hamstring strain, and compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and the reopening of a previously denied claim for gastrointestinal disability.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease, tinnitus, ulcerative colitis with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and depression and anxiety have all been granted service connection.,Service connection for these conditions is based on direct evidence of their onset during or related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. An additional VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and anxiety disorder. A new VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD with insomnia was granted a 70 percent evaluation, effective April 8, 2020. The rating is based on the severity of his symptoms and their impact on occupational and social functioning.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but has remanded it due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his condition.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic symptoms, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Specific Trauma and Stressor Related Disorder, was rated at a 70 percent prior to March 4, 2020. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional examinations and development of his claims, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and increased ratings for cervical and thoracolumbar spine conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete findings and inadequate rationales in previous VA examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations and obtain medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for GERD and gastritis are denied as they do not meet the criteria for direct or presumptive service connection. However, his PTSD claim is granted based on personal assaults / a pattern of harassment during active duty.,PTSD service connection is granted due to in-service personal assaults / a pattern of harassment. Major depressive disorder with associated anxiety, insomnia, and memory loss are also granted as they can be linked to the Veteran's period of active service.,The Veteran's bowel disturbance with abdominal distress (an intestinal condition) qualifies as a qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. � 3.317 due to his Persian Gulf service. His type II diabetes mellitus is also granted as a qualifying chronic disability resulting from undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multi-symptom illness.,Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) with angina (chest pain) and hypertension are both granted secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) with angina (chest pain).,PTSD, major depressive disorder, alcohol abuse, and polysubstance abuse disorders are all granted as secondary to his now service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is granted a 20 percent rating based on orthopedic manifestations. His tension headaches have been granted the maximum 50 percent rating from August 26, 2013.

The March 16, 2015 rating decision was not revised due to clear and unmistakable error. The claim for service connection of GAD and MDD with other unspecified personality disorder is reopened. PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent prior to May 21, 2021 and denied for higher ratings thereafter.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder, based on the Veteran's in-service stressors of witnessing enemy missiles shot down while on guard duty and performing diagnostic tests on wounded civilians and enemy soldiers as an x-ray technician.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to failure to obtain VA medical opinions and updated treatment records. The Veteran is also required to provide any outstanding pertinent records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and anxiety, dysthymic disorder, and depression as components of service-connected PTSD. Service connection for hearing loss disability was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with instability and generalized anxiety disorder due to new evidence indicating a worsening of these conditions. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining private medical records from Dr. B.R.