Anxiety decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease has rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, an adjustment disorder, anxiety, and a panic disorder. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and increased rating for her acquired psychiatric disorder has been denied. The Board found that the earliest date of receipt for her service connection claim was June 17, 2008, and she did not have prior communications indicating intent to reopen her claim before this date.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was denied as there is no legal basis for the assignment of such a higher evaluation. The effective date remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety, PTSD, and fatigue have been dismissed. The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches as secondary to her service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling VA examinations. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability will be addressed after the necessary adjudications are completed.

The Veteran's anxiety and depression have been rated at 30 percent prior to June 14, 2013. The symptoms include occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder with anxious stress and panic attacks and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, has been rated at 70 percent since February 12, 2010. The rating is granted as the evidence shows a significant impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for a retrospective VA examination to determine if his anxiety disorder is related to his military service, separate and distinct from his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, intermittent explosive disorder, and panic disorder. The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine the etiology of any diagnosed disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions, including PTSD and prostate disorder.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for an alcohol and substance use disorder was granted, and he is now entitled to this benefit. The effective date for the grant of service connection for social anxiety disorder is set at May 31, 2012.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression is currently rated at 70 percent, effective February 19, 2011. The claim for higher ratings on other conditions remains pending.

The Veteran's right ankle arthritis and acquired psychiatric disability are currently rated at 10 percent and 10 percent, respectively. The Board finds that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's primary insomnia, including symptoms of depression and anxiety, is rated at 100 percent disabling as of October 21, 2013. The Veteran also has a 70 percent rating for his service-connected primary insomnia prior to that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to August 1, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a cerebral concussion (claimed as a head injury) and a psychiatric disorder are being reconsidered.

The Board found that the current psychiatric disability is not causally related to service and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and PTSD.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there is no evidence of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a separately diagnosable psychiatric disability other than his already service-connected panic disorder without agoraphobia and PTSD. His anxiety and depression are symptoms of his service-connected psychiatric disabilities.