Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for an anxiety disorder and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to her active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and anxiety) is remanded due to the failure to obtain all in-patient service treatment records from Merit Health. The AOJ must ensure these records are obtained before further adjudication.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's anxiety is related to his service, including stressor events in Iceland. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that there is a clear and unmistakable error in the finding of PTSD, and the evidence does not support current diagnoses for any other acquired psychiatric conditions. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and an unspecified anxiety disorder, are granted as service connected due to a favorable nexus opinion.

Effective dates of June 4, 2022 are granted for service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and disc disease, IVDS, spondylosis, scoliosis and healed compression fracture of T7, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and right lower extremity femoral radiculopathy.,Effective date of October 5, 2023 is granted for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (Generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder), back disability (lumbar discogenic pain), and right lower extremity radiculopathy as the evidence did not support their onset or development during active duty.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection for insomnia as moot due to a prior rating decision granting it. The claim for polycythemia with JAK2 mutation is denied, and the claim for GAD is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including insomnia disorder, anxiety, and somatic symptom disorder) and bruxism. The evidence did not support a finding of direct or secondary service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, right ankle disorder, and anxiety disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of verification for the Veteran's reported in-service incident where he was shot in the chest by a fellow soldier. The claim will be reconsidered with this information.

The Board has granted service connection for migraines as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings of PTSD with anxiety and pleural plaques with known asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board dismissed all claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings related to the Veteran's PTSD, facial scars with disfigurement, and painful scars of the face.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of the April 2021 rating decision.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and OSA were found to have occupational and social impairment, but not total impairment. The claim for TDIU was denied due to the persuasive evidence showing the service-connected disabilities did not render him incapable of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (diagnosed as unspecified anxiety disorder and PTSD) based on credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred, including reports of military sexual assault, substance abuse, and changes in social behavior.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, and Persistent Depressive Disorder with Alcohol Use Disorder) prevents him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. Additionally, he has an additional service-connected disability (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) that is independently rated at 60 percent, meeting the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, began during service and is related to military sexual assault. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.