Anxiety decisions — 2020

Your claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder, has been dismissed as moot because your PTSD was already granted in a June 2020 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination report, specifically regarding the Veteran's claimed stressor of Operation Just Cause in Panama. The examiner is required to provide a new opinion on the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as he has been rendered unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran also withdrew his increased rating for PTSD, and the Board does not have jurisdiction over the sleep apnea issue.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for migraine headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to additional development being required. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are currently considered direct service connection cases.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety is granted a 50 percent rating for the period from April 13, 2012 to October 17, 2019.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and completion of a 21-8940 application. The impact of his service-connected anxiety disorder on his employment is also needed to be addressed.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a back disability and hemorrhoids, but has determined that further development is needed to address the remaining issues of service connection for lumbosacral spine disability, left leg disability (including radiculopathy and leg shortening), forehead scar, and psychiatric disability. The decision on these issues will be remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from November 6, 2015 until June 14, 2016. The Board granted TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorder have been granted a rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of this decision. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability has also been granted starting February 25, 2014.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with cognitive disorder is rated at a 50 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the RAMP opt-in on July 14, 2018. The symptoms associated with this condition have been found to cause occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of lay statements linking the Veteran's psychiatric symptoms to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions and their relationship to service. Additional development is needed, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted, but the claims for anxiety and depression are remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine their relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to restore service connection for an anxiety disorder, finding that the original grant of service connection was clearly and unmistakably erroneous due to a negative etiological opinion from the VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including an opinion on whether his mental health conditions are proximately due or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to include anxiety disorder, as there was no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional medical opinions regarding his sleep apnea and its relationship to his service-connected conditions, specifically epilepsy, adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new addendum opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression, was incurred in service.