Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for shin splints, tendinitis of the left ankle, residuals of a head injury, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) due to incomplete service treatment records from his second period of active duty. The VA must obtain these records and provide the Veteran with appropriate examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and consideration of the Veteran's lay statements. The claim will be reviewed again with a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination, including service connection claims for various psychiatric conditions, bilateral hip disability, joint pain, basal cell cancer residuals, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations is recognized.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for acne has been withdrawn and dismissed.,Service connection for hypertension (presumed due to PACT Act) is granted, but the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending as remanded.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for anxiety, a rating in excess of 70 percent prior to June 13, 2019, for PTSD with major depressive disorder, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for nasal fracture without deviation, s/p open septorhinoplasty associated with patellofemoral pain syndrome left knee.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a personality disorder, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and PTSD. The Board found that there is no evidence to support these conditions as being related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, mood disorder NOS, major depressive disorder, and unspecified anxiety disorder, finding that there was no valid diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient evidence linking any current psychiatric disorders to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for sleep apnea is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection granted for major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks and chronic headaches. The Board finds in favor of the Veteran due to positive evidence outweighing negative evidence.,Right wrist disability service connection granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service and post-service treatment records supporting this claim.,Bilateral knee conditions and low back disability service connection remanded as additional evidence is needed.,Bilateral foot disability service connection granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the addition of new VA medical records and examinations. The case will be returned to the AOJ for review.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is related to military service, including exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is related to her military service.,The Veteran's carpal tunnel in the bilateral hands is related to her military service.,The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is related to her military service.

The Veteran's skin tissue salvage scar is not compensably rated, and his TDIU claim prior to August 8, 2023 is granted. His TDIU from August 8, 2023 is dismissed as moot due to the grant of SMC based on housebound criteria.

The Veteran's claim of reopening a service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is granted, and the case is remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete verification of the Veteran's in-service stressor and a need for additional VA medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete verification of the Veteran's service in Iran. The Veteran is still seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, is granted as service connected due to the evidence showing it arose during his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder of GAD and MDD, as well as left knee osteoarthritis. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injuries and continuous symptoms since separation.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, Persistent Depressive Disorder, and Anxiety Disorder).

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA medical records. A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to her in-service experiences.

The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, as well as a left hand disability, were denied. The denial is based on the lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors occurred or involved fear of hostile military activity.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, specifically his knee and finger surgeries.