Anxiety decisions — 2020

The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent from March 10, 2014. He also received a TDIU effective that date.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder. The case is remanded for further adjudication of the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hip and right ankle disabilities have been dismissed. The appeal for tinnitus has been granted. Appeals for initial ratings of anxiety disorder and CAD are being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for a new VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety, is being reviewed.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder and anxiety, prior to June 15, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions. The issues of hearing loss, tinnitus, traumatic arthritis of the left knee, partial loss and use of lower extremity, low back pain, right knee pain and stiffness associated with traumatic osteoarthritis of the left knee, anxiety disorder, a pain disorder, and major depressive disorder are being remanded for further development. The denial of service connection for PTSD remains unchanged.

The Board has remanded four issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including substance abuse and heart conditions. The cases are pending further examination and review.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining addendum opinions regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea and addressing his claims of service connection for a depressive disorder and anxiety disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for his service-connected anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, finding that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, is granted as secondary to his service-connected eye disability and tinnitus.,The Veteran's respiratory disability, including sleep apnea, is granted as secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 1, 2007 for the award of a total disability rating on the basis of individual unemployability (TDIU) and eligibility to Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA). The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since January 1, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety disorder, has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and the evidence does not support a finding that his anxiety disorder began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to flaws in a previous VA medical opinion, and the need for clarification of certain records.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including major depressive disorder. The examiner was asked to provide opinions on whether any diagnosed psychiatric disability is related to active service or caused by or aggravated by any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder was not reopened, while the right foot disability claim was reopened. The lumbar spine disability remains at a 20% rating, and the residuals of the right great toe injury remain at a 10% rating.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of facial skin cancer due to the death of the appellant, and the anxiety disorder was already granted.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of January 22, 1980 for the grant of service connection for PTSD and anxiety disorder. The Veteran's claim was based on new STRs obtained in August 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss prevented him from obtaining and sustaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, as well as a sleep disorder. The decision concludes that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions, and any alcohol abuse disorder is not service-connected due to its being related to a personality disorder.