Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine condition, sciatic nerve radiculopathy (both lower extremities), bilateral lumbosacral disorder, and migraines. The claims of service connection for PTSD, depression and anxiety, and sleep disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent disability rating since April 15, 2011. The evidence shows significant impairment in work and social functioning.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from maintaining substantially gainful employment since January 2009. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU until September 22, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for cerebellar condition, hypertension, prostate condition, kidney disability, scars, back disability, cervical spine disability, GERD, erectile dysfunction, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and bilateral upper extremity carpal tunnel were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims. ,Service connection was granted for PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, with sleep apnea being secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent effective July 31, 2018.,Hyperhidrosis was initially rated as 30 percent effective June 10, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder. The decision is based on the Veteran's competent and credible lay statements regarding his symptoms in and since separation from service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to October 16, 2013. Therefore, a TDIU is granted since October 16, 2013, but no earlier.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum opinion to address whether schizophrenia with anxiety was present to a disabling degree within one year of the Veteran's honorable service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate evaluations and need for further examinations. The issues include psychiatric disabilities, heart disability, hypertension, bilateral knee disabilities, sleep apnea, and headaches.

The Veteran's service connection claims for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder are both granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder. The Veteran's claim for service connection will be reconsidered after obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's healed pleurodesis scars are restored to a 30 percent rating. His anxiety disorder is granted at a 70 percent rating from October 9, 2018. The Veteran also receives a separate 10 percent rating for pleuritic chest pain associated with his recurrent pneumothorax.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including seeking to corroborate any reported stressors related to PTSD and determining whether the Veteran's hearing loss began in or was caused by military noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, rating of right wrist disability, and TDIU due to new evidence received since the last decision.

The Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, are found to be due to his military service. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that the December 2013 rating decision, which granted service connection for GAD with MDD and assigned a 50 percent initial rating, was not final due to new and material evidence received within one year of the decision. The matter is being remanded to address whether an effective date prior to February 5, 2017, for the award of TDIU is warranted.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression is dismissed.,A rating of 50 percent for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression is granted, effective from the date of the Veteran's hearing.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for anxiety and depressive disorder was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating. His TDIU claim prior to June 8, 2016, was also denied.

Your claim for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed because your psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as generalized anxiety disorder with insomnia disorder, was already granted in a September 2022 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety due to incomplete records and need for further examination.