Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete STRs and a need for additional development, including obtaining missing records from active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various psychiatric, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular disabilities that he contends began during active service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety due to a lack of development regarding claimed stressors, and because an addendum opinion is needed on whether the Veteran's diagnosed adjustment disorder with anxiety was caused or aggravated by his service-connected knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error in the September 2018 VA examination, which did not consider relevant service treatment records. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is claimed as related to his service, particularly his alcohol abuse and anxiety issues.

The Board has restored the Veteran's PTSD rating from 50% to 70%, finding that there was no actual improvement in symptoms and thus the reduction was improper.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is granted service connection due to in-service exposure to burn pits and other toxins. His depression and anxiety are also granted as secondary to his now service-connected Parkinson's disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including gunshot wound residuals and posttraumatic stress disorder, were awarded effective the day after she separated from active duty. The Board denied earlier effective dates for these awards.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and/or unspecified anxiety disorder with alcohol use disorder, remains pending.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for hearing loss, anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder with anxiety. Service connection was granted for acquired psychiatric disorders secondary to degenerative disc disease and neurogenic erectile dysfunction secondary to degenerative disc disease. SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ was granted.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions obtained prior to the April 2021 rating decision were inadequate, particularly regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions. The claims for service connection are being remanded to allow for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is remanded due to the failure to obtain all relevant private treatment records. The issue of service connection for an anxiety disorder secondary to PTSD remains unresolved.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected other specified bipolar disorder with alcohol use disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition as secondary to his primary disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the failure to obtain relevant private treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no current diagnosis of a psychiatric condition under DSM-V. The Veteran was diagnosed with adjustment disorder and major depressive disorder in the past but his symptoms have resolved.

The Board has granted an increased initial rating of 70 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder effective September 11, 2020. However, the Board has also remanded the case to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including anxiety and insomnia, finding that the evidence does not support a link to active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to in-service stressors or MST.

The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder is found to cause total occupational and social impairment, warranting a disability rating of 100 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of VA examination and medical opinion, as well as incomplete evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and will require a new VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disabilities.