Anxiety decisions — 2024

Service connection is granted for left and right large toe ingrown toenails, generalized anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder. Service connection for lower back condition and seborrhea and folliculitis are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, major depression, and anxiety, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are linked to her reported in-service military sexual trauma (MST).

The Board has granted secondary service connection for headaches, an acquired psychiatric disability (including depression and anxiety), and OSA, all of which are found to be proximately due or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected back condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of right hip trochanteric pain syndrome due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions and current disability ratings. The issues have been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has found that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate to adjudicate the claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, traumatic brain injury, left knee disability, right knee disability, and sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder, is found to be etiologically related to service. The Board granted the claim for service connection.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's anxiety disorder, finding that her symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on the severity and frequency of her anxiety.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been granted.,The matter of secondary service connection for left and right knee disorders to a back disability is being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including other specified anxiety disorder due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran's representative provided additional information about his service and post-service symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected anxiety disorder, NOS (claimed as anxiety, mental condition, and sleep disturbances) from December 24, 2012 is dismissed because the February 2020 rating decision was merely implementing the Board's prior award of a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety, consistent with DSM-V criteria. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression/anxiety, was rated at 50% prior to January 21, 2010. The VA granted a TDIU based on the service-connected disabilities, effective from July 26, 2006.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for anxiety, sleep apnea, sleep disturbances, and angina due to outstanding private treatment records not having been obtained. The Veteran is required to assist in this process by providing releases for VA to obtain any identified private records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that his current psychiatric condition is not related to his active duty service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including VA treatment records, private treatment records, and opinions regarding toxic exposure risk activities (TERA).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims to re-establish service connection for his lower back condition, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and generalized anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder and insomnia due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all five claims have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal in June 2020.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's diagnoses of PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, and Unspecified Adjustment Disorder are recognized, but the relationship between these conditions and his military service is unclear.

The Veteran's tinnitus, right rib sprain, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder, and insomnia) are all granted as service connected. The claims for PTSD have been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression and anxiety disorder has been granted, but the issue is remanded due to a pre-decisional error in not obtaining a VA examination prior to the February 2021 rating decision.