Anxiety decisions — 2021

The Veteran's anxiety and major depressive disorder have been granted with a 70% evaluation, effective from March 1, 2019. His bilateral hearing loss has not met the criteria for an initial compensable rating.

The Board denied service connection for an anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's anxiety is part of his service-connected PTSD and does not warrant a separate diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain service treatment records, as well as to provide a new VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder and right knee disability.

The Board has granted a higher initial disability rating of 50 percent for the service-connected generalized anxiety disorder from January 12, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and an anxiety disorder other than PTSD have been reopened, but the evidence does not support a finding of current disability or service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of PTSD, ischemic optic neuropathy, coronary artery disease, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have been dismissed as withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an anxiety disorder has also been dismissed as withdrawn.,Beginning May 18, 2018, the Veteran is in receipt of a total schedular rating due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue of entitlement to TDIU beginning May 18, 2018, was dismissed as moot.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of January 13, 2020 for a 70 percent rating for PTSD. The decision found that it was not factually ascertainable that the Veteran's PTSD increased in severity to warrant a 70 percent rating prior to January 13, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for an earlier effective date and a higher initial rating for service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder with unspecified depressive disorder associated with CAD. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a 100% disability rating, but they approximated a 70% rating.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic sleep impairment as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back and right hip disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety and anger disorders as there was no evidence of a current disability or persistent symptoms during service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder (claimed as PTSD). As a result, the Board dismissed the appeal.

New and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for lumbosacral strain.,The Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service. The examiner should provide an opinion on whether ED was aggravated by his acquired psychiatric disability.,Service connection is granted for PTSD, but no rating assigned as it is presumed due to in-service personal assault.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric condition and sleep apnea disability as secondary to her acquired psychiatric condition due to inadequate VA examinations, missing treatment records, and insufficient evidence of a nexus between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder, is granted as service connected. The Board found the evidence in equipoise on whether the current symptoms are related to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder is granted as service-connected. The issues of service connection for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, hypertension, and a heart disease (claimed residual of a heart attack) are remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date because the RO (AOJ) has not adjudicated this issue, and the claimant must first have it addressed by the RO.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and for a new medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death. The appeal will be reconsidered after these issues are addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for VR&E benefits, other than employment services, to include training in pursuit of a career as an attorney. The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his vocational goal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood. The Veteran's self-reported symptoms are considered in the new examination.