Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Veteran's kidney disease is caused by his service-connected hypertension, and he has a current diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service stressors. The claims for these conditions are granted.

The Veteran's migraine headache and anxiety disorder are granted service connection, with the migraine headache being related to in-service treatment for headaches. The psychiatric disability is remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of CUE in prior decisions regarding his service-connected hearing loss, tinnitus, right eye disability, anxiety disorder, thoracolumbar spine disability, hemorrhoids, and left thumb disability should be remanded for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to October 23, 2008 due to his service-connected disabilities not preventing him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for gout and onychocryptosis of the left great toe are reopened, but service connection remains denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA compensation criteria.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and PTSD) is denied because the Veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric condition.,Service connection for sleep disturbances (including sleep apnea) is denied due to attribution of symptoms to obstructive sleep apnea, which was not incurred in or caused by service.,Service connection for painful joints, other than gout and a neck disability, is denied as the Veteran has not identified specific joints for which he seeks service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he died during their pendency.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD, due to incomplete examination reports. The Veteran's claims are now pending again.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination results.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is rated at 100 percent effective October 12, 2017.,As the Veteran has a combined rating of 100% for her service-connected conditions and is in receipt of a 100% rating for her generalized anxiety disorder, entitlement to TDIU is moot.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD, and persistent depressive disorder due to a failure to attempt to corroborate the Veteran's reported stressor during service.

The appellant's service-connected PTSD required hospital treatment in excess of 21 days at a VA hospital, meeting the criteria for a temporary total evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as bipolar disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan where she witnessed traumatic events, combined with her history of childhood abuse.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his current anxiety disorder is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD should be remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for further development.

Your claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of unspecified anxiety disorder, left shoulder strain to include degenerative arthritis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been dismissed as the Veteran is already in receipt of these benefits from October 1, 2005.,Your claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of left foot Morton's neuroma and metatarsalgia has also been dismissed. You are currently receiving this benefit since October 1, 2005.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified anxiety disorder and insomnia disorder, finding that it is related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection and Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder. The Veteran was not provided with a VA examination in this context.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations used to rate the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are inadequate and remanded for further examination. The issues of rating higher than 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, rating higher than 10 percent for right knee strain with lateral and medical collateral ligament strain, status-post meniscal repair, service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, service connection for right shoulder rotator cuff tear, and service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder are all remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically not obtaining an etiology opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability related to his service and exposure to bombs and herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service-connected left hip, low back, and left lower extremity disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance. The grant of SMC based on the need for aid and attendance moots his claim for housebound status.