Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Board has expanded the Veteran's claim to include other mental health conditions and is remanding for an addendum opinion regarding whether any of these conditions, including bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and ADHD, are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining addendum opinions regarding her back disability and acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right knee disorder, PTSD with depressive disorder and anxiety, and IBS has been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeals. The case is REMANDED for further development regarding his TDIU claim.,A VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD and IBS.

The Veteran's TDIU claims for the periods from August 8, 2014 to October 3, 2016 and from October 3, 2016 are denied as her service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a schedular or extraschedular TDIU rating. The Veteran's education and work history demonstrate that she is capable of engaging in non-physically demanding employment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and readjudication of his claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional medical records and treatment information, including SSA records and VA/privately obtained mental health and heart disability records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for personality disorder is denied, but the Board finds that his acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD) is attributable to an in-service incident and grants service connection on a direct basis.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with persistent depressive disorder and alcohol abuse has not caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, so a higher rating than 30 percent is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 20, 2015 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for earlier TDIU or DEA effective dates as his employment ended prior to November 20, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the Veteran's mental health conditions.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD, finding that the Veteran did not experience an in-service event or injury related to his current conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his DDD involving the lumbosacral spine and related radiculopathy conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since December 1, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder with anxious distress) and insomnia disorder, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not due to pain and physical limitations caused by service-connected disabilities. Service connection for a disability manifested by loss of appetite was denied.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, and Anxiety Disorder is granted. The initial rating for low back disability prior to June 7, 2019 is granted at 20 percent. A higher than 40 percent rating for the low back disability since June 7, 2019 is denied. Initial ratings of 10 percent are granted for right sciatica and scar formation in the right cranium prior to June 6, 2019. The issue of service connection for joint pain is dismissed.

Service connection for bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, PTSD, depressive disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, anxiety disorder, and left leg scar is granted. Service connection for head scar is denied.,The Veteran's hypertension was granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and left knee condition due to potential issues with the evidence provided.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies regarding whether the Veteran has a diagnosed psychiatric disorder during the period on appeal. The Veteran needs to be rescheduled for a VA examination with proper notification.

The Board has remanded the cases due to non-compliance with previous directives and the Veteran's failure to attend VA examinations. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (to include anxiety and depression) and a right-hand disability are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to provide a VA examination for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran must be afforded with the proper VA examination and medical etiology opinion.