Anxiety decisions — 2021

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for adjustment reaction with anxiety and depressive features as his request to opt into the Appeals Modernization Act review system was timely.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his anxiety disorder did not manifest during active service and is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his persistent depressive disorder with social anxiety disorder has been withdrawn and dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with symptoms of depression and anxiety, is granted. The TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases of fecal incontinence, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted in a January 2021 rating decision, covering the entire period on appeal. As this grant resolved all issues, the Board dismissed the case as moot.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis and strain, sleep apnea, major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder, and cellulitis have been granted service connection. Effective June 29, 2017, the Veteran has also received a 100 percent schedular rating for his major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other mental health conditions. Additional development is needed to clarify the onset of these disorders in light of the Veteran's two periods of active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate rationale in previous VA opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines, including as secondary to his PTSD, was denied. His claim for TDIU was granted due to the severity of his PTSD and related conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to address certain issues in the record.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for generalized anxiety disorder was denied. The service connection claims for PTSD and depression, as well as TDIU, were also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorders are related to his service, including his service-connected asthma.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions and other issues. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, spine disabilities, and bilateral leg numbness are all being reviewed again.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by stressful events in service. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate development of evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder. The issues of service connection and TDIU are inextricably intertwined and must be addressed together.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. His eligibility for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, psoriasis, headaches, and a pituitary tumor due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's service records show he had stressors related to racism and harassment during his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is granted as service connected. The claim for PTSD is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since March 31, 2012. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.