Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 22, 2010 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The December 3, 1997 Statement in Support of Claim was interpreted as a claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 rather than for service connection.

The Board has found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Panic Attacks) and fibromyalgia are related to service, including exposure to jet fuel during active duty. The issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to development needs.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, including his initial ratings and effective dates. The Veteran is also seeking TDIU prior to August 24, 2012, and SMP-AA/HB.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including knee, foot, hip, shoulder, and psychiatric disabilities. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development as requested.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include anxiety disorder and PTSD, which was previously granted in August 2021.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and PTSD, is granted as service connected.

The Veteran's major depression with generalized anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability. The evidence does not show occupational and social impairment in most areas.

The Veteran's anxiety, depression, and PTSD are related to service. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for her generalized anxiety and depressive disorders, as well as her right hamstring residuals, are being remanded due to the need for new examinations. Her TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and addressing the Veteran's reported stressors during service.

The Board has granted the petitions to reopen claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression; a back disorder; a neck disorder; and a left knee disorder. The claims are remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records and the need to contact witnesses of the alleged in-service assault.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for sleep disorder/insomnia, an acquired psychiatric disorder to include adjustment disorder with anxiety and PTSD, lumbar radiculopathy, left right lower extremity, lumbar radiculopathy, right lower extremity, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine must be remanded due to the need for updated medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's depression and anxiety are rated at 70 percent, effective August 8, 2008. Effective the same date, TDIU is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically adjustment disorder with anxiety, finding that the onset of this condition occurred during active service and is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, finding that it began during active service and continues to this day.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was received and must be considered in the context of the Veteran's claims for increased initial disability ratings. The appeal is being remanded to allow for a full review of the claims.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, residuals of head trauma (claimed as traumatic brain injury), headaches, memory loss, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Barrett's esophagus, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Board has remanded the cases for obtaining additional VA treatment records from August 2017 to July 2021, including those related to a September 2017 hospitalization.

Your service connection for PTSD, agoraphobia, anxiety, depression, combat fatigue, and phobias has already been granted with a rating of 70 percent. The appeal is dismissed as the requested benefit (service connection) has been achieved.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided are inadequate for adjudicating the Veteran's claims. Therefore, the cases must be remanded to obtain updated medical evidence and an adequate opinion.