Anxiety decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder resulted in significant impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating as of October 25, 2017.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded because his service-connected PTSD and anxiety now require consideration under a different rating criteria, which may affect the outcome of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeals for depression and anxiety were dismissed. Bilateral hearing loss was granted, but the issues of bilateral knee disability and back disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are service-connected, but remanded for further examination and opinion regarding other claimed conditions. The issues of service connection for a right and left hand disability, generalized anxiety disorder with memory loss, dizziness, and migraine headaches remain unresolved.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for depression due to new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, anxiety, and chronic pain syndrome) and fibromyalgia are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, that is related to service. The evidence shows that his mental health conditions are more likely due to pre-existing personality disorders and not caused by or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of right ear surgery with chronic ear infection is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (claimed as PTSD, depression, anxiety, and chronic sleep impairment) is also denied. The VA examiner found the Veteran does not have any diagnosed mental disorder.,The skin condition claim due to herbicide exposure remains pending as further examination is needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder arthritis and impingement syndrome, left shoulder glenohumeral arthritis, lower back degenerative joint disease, and anxiety disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, and he is also granted service connection for anxiety. The claims for tinnitus, right hand tendonitis, left hand tendonitis, plantar fasciitis of the left foot, and plantar fasciitis of the right foot are denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, left leg amputation, peripheral neuropathies in both upper and lower extremities, vocal cord paralysis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is currently rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The evidence shows that his symptoms do not warrant a higher disability rating.,Regarding TDIU, the Board finds that the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for her anxiety and depression, as well as TDIU, are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional private treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder as there is no current diagnosis of this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks and somatic symptoms disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment prior to October 11, 2018. The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for this period. From October 11, 2018, the Veteran is rated at 100 percent for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks and somatic symptoms disorder.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder, NOS; entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease, bilateral knees; and entitlement to an initial compensable rating for sinusitis prior to October 29, 2014, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claim of an increased rating for service-connected panic attacks with agoraphobia (claimed as anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder) is being remanded due to the inextricable nature of this issue with another pending appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for Parkinson’s disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper and lower extremities due to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's claim for these conditions is being reviewed again with additional evidence and examinations.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD, is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been granted.

The Veteran is unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from June 27, 2016.