Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including generalized anxiety disorder, depression, alcohol and polysubstance use disorder, and schizophrenia/psychosis. The decision also denies his eligibility for VA compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to right hip surgery and/or injections, as well as treatment for a right inguinal hernia.

The Veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Gulf War Era is confirmed, and presumptive service connection applies. The Board finds further development needed for all claims on appeal based on this service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and rating reduction are being remanded due to the need for additional information regarding the competency of the VA examiners who provided the examination reports used in the previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of in-service stressors related to military sexual trauma (MST) and a need for additional development regarding the Veteran's service dates.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, finding that they were aggravated by his service-connected migraine headaches.

The Veteran's anxiety and service connection for hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure) are granted. The restoration of evaluations for various knee conditions, including trochanteric bursitis and patellofemoral arthritis, is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, depression, and low back disorder have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The cases are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding service connection.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected radiculopathy, right sciatic nerve, left sciatic nerve, hemorrhoids, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, kidney stones, lip numbness, and gastrointestinal disorders have been remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and unspecified anxiety disorder, is related to his service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, major depression, and anxiety was granted. However, his claim for hearing loss was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including anxiety disorder, other unspecified depressive disorder, and adjustment disorder. The VA needs to obtain updated treatment records, corroborate stressors related to his service, and provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the inability to obtain his service treatment records and personnel files. The AOJ is instructed to contact relevant departments and request these records, document all efforts made, and provide the Veteran with an opportunity to submit any additional evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder, chronic lumbar sprain, and residuals of a left ankle fracture have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to the combined impact of these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and panic disorder, is not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's mental health disability has been rated at 100 percent since April 8, 2022.,The Veteran's multilevel DDD/DJD lumbosacral spine with severe stenosis was not manifested by unfavorable ankylosis and remains rated at 40 percent.

The Board has found that the VA examination and opinion are inadequate for adjudication purposes due to insufficient consideration of certain stressor events and behavioral changes. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, dysthymic disorder, and anxiety disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in its March 2022 decision, specifically failing to address whether the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disability may have caused or aggravated his unspecified depressive disorder and anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms do not warrant total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service connection for bipolar disorder/bipolar depressive disorder (claimed as anxiety, depression, mania, and bipolar) is granted. The issues of initial compensable disability rating for hearing loss and total disability rating based on individual unemployability are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including insomnia, anxiety, and OCD, finding no diagnosed disability that conforms to the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.