Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with associated conditions has been granted a 70 percent evaluation prior to October 17, 2018. The appeal for the other issues was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's right foot disability and acquired psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, are granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, lumbar-spine disorder and obstructive sleep apnea have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for acquired psychiatric disorders including PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, as well as for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension (due to presumed herbicide exposure), prostate cancer (due to presumed herbicide exposure), and bilateral hearing loss. Service connection was denied for lumbar-spine disorder and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to the submission of new evidence since the last decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete verification of service incidents and the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression and anxiety began during his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder. Service connection is also remanded for the issue of whether the Veteran's PTSD is related to his in-service stressor.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, are not service-connected. The Board found that the current diagnoses were more likely caused by post-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, OSA, and GERD due to incomplete development of records and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran is also seeking an increased evaluation for his GERD.

The Board has determined that the current medical evidence is insufficient to establish a link between the Veteran's psychiatric disability and his in-service appendectomy, and thus remands for further examination and opinion.

The Board's decision granting SMC for statutory housebound during the period beginning October 17, 2011 is vacated. The TDIU issue prior to November 21, 2018 is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include depression and anxiety, is remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination.

The Veteran's hypertension has been granted an initial 10 percent rating effective September 29, 2017.,Service connection for the lumbar spine disability, tinnitus, and hypertension have all been granted with effective dates of September 29, 2017.,Service connection for a left knee disability has not been established.,Service connection for a right knee disability has not been established.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (social anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder) has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating from 30 to 50 percent for Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Alcohol Use Disorder is granted, effective August 9, 2018. The issue of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to pending appeals in the AMA system that need to be resolved before adjudication can proceed.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted as service-connected.,PTSD with sleep disturbance and anxiety, along with MDD with insomnia secondary to herpes simplex are both granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further development. Specifically, the VA needs to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in Vietnam, provide a new examination to address the medical nexus between hepatitis C and hypertension, and clarify the nature of any other conditions claimed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric and physical conditions, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU effective August 1, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete private treatment records and will conduct further development, including seeking additional stressor corroboration/research and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for depression with anxiety, also claimed as generalized anxiety disorder. The Veteran's current psychiatric condition is attributed to non-service-connected factors and his service-connected conditions do not meet secondary service connection criteria.