Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorder diagnosed, including but not limited to depression, adjustment disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder and mood disorder. The Veteran's claim is recharacterized as seeking service connection for multiple psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's TBI is granted a 10% disability rating, effective prior to March 15, 2017. The acquired psychiatric disorder is granted a 70% disability rating for the entire period on appeal prior to August 22, 2022, and denied any higher rating from that date onwards.

The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's Disease and its secondary effects on dementia NOS, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, chronic, migraine headaches, and liver disorder. The Veteran's in-service exposure to TCE is considered a risk factor for developing Parkinson's Disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions and gaps in treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability was related to service, and if so, whether his alcohol use disorder was aggravated by that condition. The cause of death is also under review.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate VA opinions and missing treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection, evaluation of his back condition, and SMC are being reviewed again.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection due to the Appellant's request to withdraw her appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, anxiety disorder, and chronic cough to obtain additional medical records and provide examinations.,An effective date prior to January 16, 2014, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board denies his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has found that the previous examinations and opinions were inadequate, particularly regarding the relationship between the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities and his other conditions. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion to address these issues.

The Veteran's PTSD and anxiety disorder were found to cause significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70% rating for the period prior to March 9, 2021. The Board also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to errors in the initial decision-making process, including a failure to provide proper notice of his right to a hearing before the RO.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and the reduction in disability rating for left knee degenerative arthritis, limitation of extension. The Veteran's current adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood was not found to be related to his active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder with PTSD caused his cocaine relapse, which in turn caused his stroke. The VA examiner needs to provide an addendum opinion addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral essential tremor and a higher initial rating for anxiety disorder have been granted. The Veteran is now rated at 50 percent for his anxiety disorder, effective November 1, 2015.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 100% rating throughout the appeal period, and he is now eligible for SMC based on his housebound status.

The Veteran's claim for a 100 percent rating for GAD with panic disorder prior to September 9, 2022 is granted.,Eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance based on permanent and total disability status as an ancillary benefit is established prior to September 9, 2022.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service and granted service connection for this condition.