Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is not service-connected. The TBI residuals are rated at 40 percent, which is the highest rating available under VA guidelines. The Veteran has been granted a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression is related to his active military service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened, but the evidence does not support a finding that his current condition is related to military service. His right and left knee disabilities are remanded for further review.

The Board denied reopening of previously denied claims for PTSD, anxiety, depression, sleep apnea, and bilateral tinnitus. The evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen any of these claims.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is found to have started during service and has continued since, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, leading to a grant of an initial evaluation of 70 percent prior to August 31, 2015.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective July 1, 2015. The Board found that the symptoms more closely approximated a 50 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has granted the claims for service connection for parotid neoplasm and acquired psychiatric disability as secondary to HIV, but denied the claim for prostatitis. The other conditions are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened, and he is now granted service connection. His lumbar spine disability remains rated at 20 percent. The Board also found that the evidence supports a grant of service connection for Parkinson's disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to concerns about the sufficiency of evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including schizoaffective disorder and anxiety, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examination reports and incomplete development of stressor allegations. The issues include PTSD, depression, anxiety, bilateral ankle condition, bilateral knee condition, and low back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include anxiety disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information on the Veteran's psychiatric conditions and their relationship to her service-connected hypopigmentation condition. The Veteran will need a new VA opinion to clarify these issues.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder have been rated at 50 percent since November 16, 2019. The Board denied a higher rating for the condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as due to personal assault type events in service is remanded. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including but not limited to PTSD, depressive disorder, anxiety, and adjustment disorder, is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's GAD and its impact on his employability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is being remanded due to the need for a more reliable medical opinion regarding her claimed conditions.