Anxiety decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and anxiety, as well as back disability, for substitution or accrued benefits purposes.,Service connection was denied for the Veteran's back disability.

The Veteran's service connection for anxiety disorder is granted, and he receives a higher rating of 70 percent. Effective May 16, 2018, the Veteran also received earlier effective dates for his service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for insomnia prior to December 23, 2016 was granted with an initial 50 percent rating. For the period from December 23, 2016 to January 10, 2019, her anxiety disorder (previously characterized as primary insomnia) was rated at 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, type 2, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to incomplete medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has decided to remand this case due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD and other psychiatric disorders are related to his active service. The VA needs to provide a clearer opinion on these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination findings and a need for further clarification of psychiatric diagnoses.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxiety has been rated at 30 percent since September 17, 2015. The Board has now granted a higher rating to 70 percent effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and earlier effective date for an anxiety disorder was granted. The claim for service connection for diverticulosis was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete delivery of documents and a hearing request. The Veteran is also required to undergo examinations for his acquired psychiatric conditions, PTSD, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for his anxiety disorder have been denied. Prior to December 29, 2020, the rating was 30%, and from that date onwards it has been 50%. The Board found no evidence of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity or deficiencies in most areas since December 29, 2020.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome has been granted an increased initial rating of 30 percent.,Service connection for undiagnosed illness manifested by chronic dermatitis, sleep disorder, heart palpitations and irregular heartbeat, headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder have all been granted due to service in the Persian Gulf.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis and fibromyalgia appeals were withdrawn.,A tumor of the right pelvic bone, blurred vision, neuropathy (including as secondary to a tumor of the right pelvic bone), and vertigo issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include anxiety and depression due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to provide new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral knee disabilities and acquired psychiatric disorders, are sufficiently severe to render him unable to maintain any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background. Therefore, the claim for TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for his low back disability or an increase in rating for his GAD with associated sleeping disorder prior to December 13, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an abnormal gait, PTSD and anxiety, a lower neck disability, and headaches have been granted. However, the claim for a lower neck disability is remanded to obtain medical records from NATO HQ at Film City.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened, and the case is remanded to allow for further development including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD and anxiety disorder) have been rated based on their service-connected nature. The Board has found that the current ratings are not adequate to reflect the severity of these conditions.,The Veteran is being remanded for further examination to determine if his PTSD symptoms have worsened since his last VA examination in February 2017.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and an earlier effective date is dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The issues of a rating in excess of 20 percent for radiculopathy, a rating in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with insomnia was productive of symptoms consistent with a 70 percent evaluation prior to March 16, 2016. The Board granted an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for the service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD and needs further examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service.