Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and an acquired psychiatric disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for service connection for GAD and also denied her claim for service connection for an acquired mental disorder other than GAD, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the GAD claim, and determined that there was no causal connection between any current psychiatric condition and active service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran needs to provide authorization for VA to obtain private medical records and a VA examination is needed to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder is rated at a 100 percent disability rating throughout the appeal period, which means it has resulted in total impairment of occupational and social functioning.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical opinions regarding his sinus condition and its relationship to his other claimed conditions.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with anxious stress is currently rated at 10% prior to January 15, 2020 and at 30% from August 21, 2014 to January 14, 2020. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating are met.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions and further development is required. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, other than PTSD, including anxiety and depression, remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, HIV, psoriasis, and TDIU due to inadequate VA examination in the original decision. The Veteran's claim for service connection will be remanded for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including a Major Depressive Disorder and an unspecified Anxiety Disorder, are granted as service-connected. The issues of service connection for COPD and alcohol abuse remain pending.

The Veteran's service connection requests for tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, anxiety disorder, right ear hearing loss, and tension headaches have been granted. The initial rating for right upper extremity radial sensory neuropathy has also been granted at a 30 percent level. Service connection was established for anxiety disorder after the claims were reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded substantially gainful employment since January 6, 2018. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Veteran is granted an initial rating of 100 percent for unspecified depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, stimulant use disorder, and alcohol use disorder from November 28, 2016, to July 4, 2017, from September 1, 2017, to July 4, 2018, and since August 1, 2018.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for anxiety disorder was denied, and the claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disability is remanded. The decision on whether the Veteran's current eye conditions are related to his military service remains pending.

The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities not meeting the schedular requirements for TDIU, and his employment in a protected work environment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, has been granted a disability rating of 70 percent for the period prior to May 9, 2002. The effective date remains pending as no specific effective date was assigned.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA and private treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than depression and anxiety is being reviewed.

The Veteran's GAD was granted a 70 percent rating as of September 30, 2019, but no earlier. The decision does not address service connection theory or exposure basis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA mental health examination. The TDIU issue is also being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder as there is no separate and distinct diagnosis of an anxiety disorder that is not related to his already service-connected PTSD. The case is being remanded for further consideration, including a TDIU issue.

Your appeal for a higher rating for your anxiety disorder has been dismissed because the Veteran passed away before a decision could be made.