Anxiety decisions — 2021

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including anxiety disorder, results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas but not total occupational and social impairment. The claim for an initial rating of 70 percent is granted.

The Veteran's right hand disability is rated as 10 percent disabling, effective January 26, 2021.,A 10 percent rating for degenerative joint disease of the left hand digits was granted prior to January 3, 2020. The claim for a higher rating from that date remains denied.,The Veteran's left hand disability is rated as 10 percent disabling effective January 26, 2021. The claim for a higher rating remains denied.,PTSD with dysthymic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder was granted a 100 percent rating effective January 8, 2020. The Veteran's prior claims for increased ratings remain denied.

The Veteran's neurocognitive disorder, major depressive disorder with psychotic features, and anxiety disorder unspecified are found to have had their onset during service or are at least as likely as not related to service. The Veteran's prostate disability is not shown to have had its onset in service or be otherwise related to a disease or injury in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current unspecified anxiety disorder is at least as likely as not related to stressors experienced during military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), is granted service connection. The claim for sleep apnea is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension, right shoulder adhesive capsulitis with bursitis and tendonitis, left shoulder adhesive capsulitis with bursitis and tendonitis, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and lumbar spine degenerative spondylosis have been granted service connection. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and PTSD has been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and the relationship between her acquired psychiatric disorders and military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and remanded to obtain a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disorder as secondary to the service-connected left ankle and foot disabilities. However, it granted service connection for PTSD and adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression.

The Veteran's Generalized Anxiety Disorder was rated at 30 percent prior to October 19, 2015. The Board has now remanded the issue for further development.,From October 19, 2015, the Veteran's Depressive Disorder with Anxious Distress (previously rated as Generalized Anxiety Disorder) was rated at 50 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's insomnia is proximately due to his service-connected anxiety disorder and grants secondary service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, an increased rating for anxiety disorder NOS, and service connection for TBI were denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety and depression. The decision is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection was not granted as there is no diagnosed current right ankle disability or mental health condition related to service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, anxiety disorder, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset during or within one year after service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for COPD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The VA is required to obtain additional records from SSA and U.S. Army Crime Records Center regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors. A VA examination must be conducted to determine the precise nature of his acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety was denied as he did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD. The Board also found that his depression and anxiety disorders were not related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities. His TDIU rating due to vertigo was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for social anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service. The Veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses include social anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for nonservice-connected death pension due to his spouse's income exceeding the maximum annual pension rate. The cause of death appeal is remanded as there was not substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, specifically adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, is rated at 50 percent. The symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted a 50% rating for unspecified anxiety disorder from October 29, 2015 to December 20, 2019 and a 70% rating for the same condition starting from December 21, 2019.