Anxiety decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 23, 1991, for his TDIU and service connection for anxiety disorder. The decision found that no new or material evidence was submitted within a year of the July 1973 rating decision denying TDIU, making it final. Additionally, the Board determined that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date due to lack of unemployability prior to December 23, 1991.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding increased disability ratings for major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, as well as an effective date for a low back disability rating. The Board dismissed these claims due to the withdrawal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with a previous remand directive. Additional development is needed, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of all diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically anxiety-depressive disorder, as there was no evidence of a direct in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral knee conditions and mental health issues, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to July 2, 2015.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, anxiety and depression, and right knee scars are pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and incomplete medical records, requiring further evaluation of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's MDD with GAD is rated at 30 percent prior to October 25, 2017. The claim for a higher rating and TDIU was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder and schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, continuous are granted as secondary to his service-connected left thigh muscular strain.,The Veteran's lower back disability is remanded for additional examination.

The Board has dismissed appeals for initial ratings and effective dates related to depression, anxiety, and a low back disability. The remaining issues of increased ratings for the low back disability and lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as service connection for upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, are being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for heart disability, diabetes, head disability (including TBI), and acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety and depression). The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection was also denied for the claimed disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for erectile dysfunction and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy has been dismissed as these issues have been granted.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left upper extremity, right upper extremity, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have also been dismissed as these issues have been granted.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)) has been remanded.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for urination/voiding dysfunction and hypertension have also been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a medical opinion regarding the Appellant's mental state at the time of his discharge. The issue is whether the character of his discharge constitutes a bar to VA benefits, with an additional inquiry into whether he was 'insane' as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA opinions regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is related to service or a service-connected condition. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the etiology of his psychiatric disorder, including on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's initial rating for depressive disorder to include anxiety disorder was granted at 70 percent effective September 11, 2015. An increased rating in excess of 70 percent for the same conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, MDD, and GAD, is denied as there is no verified in-service stressor to support the diagnosis of PTSD. The evidence does not indicate any other in-service event that caused a psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, especially his anxiety disorder and chronic headaches, are so severe that they preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected conditions are being remanded for additional examinations to assess their current severity and functional impact on his employment.