Anxiety decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing records and insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders. The case will be reviewed again with new evidence and a thorough examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, is granted as service-connected. The issue of severance of service connection for treatment purposes only pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1702 for personality disorder was dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, insomnia disorder, and/or PTSD, is currently rated at 50 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent, the maximum rating available. The Board found that his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and right great toe disability prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for insomnia disorder, GAD, right ankle condition, and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of VA examinations and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran is required to provide evidence of his Reserve service periods and undergo further examination by appropriate clinicians.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks) due to insufficient examination and medical nexus opinions.

The Board has granted a rating of 100 percent for the Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder, anxiety and alcohol use disorder due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the cases for consideration of whether there was clear and unmistakable error in a June 1984 rating decision that denied service connection for a nervous condition. The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date and increased ratings for PTSD, anxiety, and unspecified nervous conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder, finding that it began during his active duty and continues to this day.

The appeal for service connection of neurobehavioral effects (depression/anxiety) is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, along with his lumbar spine disability, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for allergic rhinitis is denied.,The claims for service connection of sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional development of medical evidence.,The claim for service connection of a lung disorder is remanded due to the need for additional development of medical evidence.,

The Board has remanded the case for initial RO consideration of additional medical evidence that was added to the claims file after the April 2020 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, PTSD, and a chronic adjustment disorder, was granted an initial rating of 50 percent prior to September 15, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of generalized anxiety disorder was denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosis prior to August 31, 2007.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and specific phobia, situational (flying anxiety) during the December 2021 Board hearing.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression is granted. The Board also remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease, lung disability (asbestosis), and fatigue due to potential exposure to asbestos during service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the service connection claims for various disabilities, including left arm pain, right arm pain, right hip pain, left hip pain, right eye vision loss, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, enlarged prostate, traumatic brain injury (TBI), let leg condition, right leg pain, anxiety condition, and left eye vision loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his service in Vietnam.