Anxiety decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability is being remanded due to the need for an additional medical opinion regarding whether his current psychiatric disability is caused or aggravated by any of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an eye disorder, bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disorder, skin disorder, and anxiety disorder have all been denied. The Board found that there was no current disability for any of these conditions, or a link to service.

The Board has found the VA examination inadequate due to an inaccurate factual premise and remands for a new examination with full consideration of all relevant records, including recent mental health treatment records showing diagnosis and treatment of depression in 2020.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions and their relation to service. The Veteran needs a VA examination to clarify his in-service stressors, reconcile private and VA treatment records, and determine if any other acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses were related to his service and granting the benefit of doubt.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate reasons and bases in its May 2020 decision, requiring a VA examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable prior to February 19, 2013, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for anxiety disorder was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms did not more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity warranting a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in its November 2020 decision, including failing to address suicidal ideation and medication overdoses. The Veteran's anxiety disorder claim is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess current symptoms and severity, as well as whether there were any suicidal ideations during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation and service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left and right ankle conditions, as well as hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder was denied in final June 2006 and September 2013 rating decisions. She did not file a timely appeal, and the claims were considered as having become final. The current effective date of October 14, 2015 is assigned because she filed a petition to reopen her claim on that day.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include left foot disability, left knee disability (secondary), and psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating and TDIU have been dismissed as he has requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain and his claims for service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder are both granted. The Veteran is also remanded for further development regarding the claim for service connection for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder is remanded due to inadequate VA examination. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.

The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder with alcohol use disorder is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, effective December 2, 2014. The Board found that the symptoms more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's PTSD and related neuropsychiatric disability are rated at a 70 percent rating from July 7, 2008. A higher initial rating for stroke residuals is denied. The Veteran is granted TDIU status from the same date.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder) is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's anxiety disorder had its onset during service and remands other issues including service connection for residuals of a stroke, rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and coronary artery disease.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety and major depressive disorder, finding that these conditions are secondary to her service-connected metatarsalgia and chronic paravertebral lumbar strain.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right shoulder disorder, and bilateral hand disorders due to new evidence submitted after the September 2020 rating decision. The claims are remanded for additional examinations.