Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a separate compensable rating for a sleep disorder, finding that his symptoms are already contemplated in his service-connected psychiatric disability and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and a mood disorder not otherwise specified, has been reopened. The Board also remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the claimed in-service stressors and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's depression and anxiety are granted on a secondary basis, while tinnitus is granted. High cholesterol, left leg disability (apart from service-connected left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy), right leg disability (apart from service-connected right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy), coronary artery disease (CAD), erectile dysfunction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, and thyroid disability are all denied. The Veteran's sleep apnea, headaches, and TDIU claims are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's headache condition, hypertension, and GERD are each remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's service connection claims for a headache condition, hypertension, and GERD are remanded due to the inextricability of these issues with his acquired psychiatric disorder claim.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded for an examination to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to show he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and a need for further examination. The issues are related to an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically generalized anxiety disorder, and a bilateral foot condition.

Your claim of service connection for PTSD has been dismissed as your original claim was granted in a February 2021 rating decision, which effectively resolved the appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for updated VA and private medical records related to the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's hypertension has been rated at 10 percent since May 31, 2016. The claim for service connection for a stroke and its secondary conditions have been remanded due to new evidence suggesting the stroke may be related to uncontrolled hypertension during the decade prior to his stroke.

The Board has remanded the cases of depression, PTSD, and to reopen service connection for an anxiety disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to service-connected disabilities was denied as he has not been unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

Your appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been dismissed as the Board has already granted it and assigned a rating of 30 percent effective October 24, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and seborrheic dermatitis with psychogenic excoriation due to inadequate consideration of his lay statements and medical evidence in previous VA opinions.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for anxiety disorder and PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a comprehensive neuropsychological examination to assess his cognitive impairment, as well as to determine when his symptoms worsened prior to the August 12, 2019 VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and considering all relevant evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment from April 17, 2018, to October 14, 2020. The Board found that the evidence showed an improvement in symptoms since he last worked in 2015, or at least that it did not worsen such that he could not obtain or maintain employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder due to new evidence showing current diagnoses and potential exposure to herbicides. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of any current psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is granted as it is considered to be a symptom of their service-connected depression.,For the initial rating period from June 6, 2018 to March 25, 2019, the Veteran receives a disability rating of 50% for their psychiatric disorder (depression with anxiety).

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence. The claim is granted as her current psychiatric disorders are found to be related to in-service sexual assault.