Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder is granted a 70 percent rating from May 1, 2019.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, leukemia, and an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as unspecified anxiety disorder) are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,Specifically, a VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss, leukemia, and unspecified anxiety disorder are related to his service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate, with generalized anxiety disorder is rated at 100 percent effective December 8, 2020.,Special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) has been granted as of December 8, 2020.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for a higher rating for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, persistent (chronic), moderate, and service connection for left knee strain.

The Board has granted the appellant's claims for service connection for PTSD, GAD and panic disorder without agoraphobia, MDD, and AUD. The appeal regarding sleep disturbances is denied as there are no other non-substance-use related disorders that have been diagnosed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, and a VA examination is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for an anxiety disorder with insomnia, and the appeal regarding whether new evidence was received to readjudicate this claim is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, as the VA examiner's opinion relied on recent mental health treatment records and ignored other diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error and needs further examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service, including fear of hostile military or terrorist activity.

The Veteran's sleep apnea syndrome is found to be secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder. The Board has granted the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical strain, an anxiety condition, and nausea are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, outstanding private treatment records from Northeast Georgia Health System and any chiropractors, as well as service treatment records concerning Dr. S.K.'s care, must be obtained.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating.,Obstructive sleep apnea remains rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum available rating under current criteria.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy continues to be rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and major depressive disorder. The reasons include a need for a VA examination to determine if there is a causal relationship between any current acquired psychiatric disability and in-service events or injuries, as well as a need to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as service connected.,There is no evidence of a current right wrist or left wrist disability during the appeal period.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected psychiatric disorder and hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease, but an addendum opinion is needed to address whether weight gain/obesity caused by these conditions also contributed to the development of OSA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically Generalized Anxiety Disorder, had its onset during his period of service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee condition, left knee condition, lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, anxiety, lateral collateral ligament sprain of the right ankle, and osteoarthritis of the right hip as secondary to pes planus (severe), hammer toes, hallux valgus.,The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder as secondary to pes planus (severe), hammer toes, hallux valgus.

The Veteran's appeal of a compensable rating for his service-connected hemorrhoid disability is dismissed as the Veteran did not file an NOD. The Board finds that remand is required for further development on issues related to service connection and TDIU due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has denied service connection for depression, anxiety, right shoulder condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition. Service connection is granted for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis due to the PACT Act presumption of exposure to burn pits or other toxins.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left ankle disability, bilateral pes planus, and bilateral foot peripheral neuropathy is dismissed. The claims of service connection for TBI, anxiety disorder with panic attacks, GERD, and female hypoactive sexual desire disorder are remanded.