Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was found to be less severe than what would warrant a higher rating prior to October 18, 2016. From October 18, 2016 to September 9, 2020, the Veteran received an initial 30 percent rating for his anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding the nature, etiology, and service connection of the Veteran's psychiatric conditions.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder with unspecified depressive disorder, effective prior to November 16, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and sleep impairment is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) from January 31, 2022, based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a mental health condition, including anxiety, panic attacks and suspicions, was granted in March 2019. The appeal seeking an increased rating for DVT, left leg, is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with effective dates of April 28, 2014, and the rating assigned is 10 percent for tinnitus. The claim for an earlier effective date for obstructive sleep apnea has also been granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for a higher rating prior to February 4, 2019, and from February 4, 2019, his psychiatric condition was manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas but did not result in total occupation and social impairment. The Board also found that he did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU prior to December 13, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the addition of new evidence since the April 2020 SOC. The AOJ must review this evidence before the Board can issue a decision.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of whether he meets the criteria for an extraschedular rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression due to insufficient evidence of current disability related to his reported in-service stressors.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her claims for service connection for right knee disability, bilateral pes planus, anxiety and depression is granted. The Board finds the issues of service connection are inextricably intertwined with the reopened claims and therefore remands them for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for major depression with generalized anxiety disorder and for TDIU due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with recurrent major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder is granted a 70 percent rating, effective September 23, 2019. Service connection for hypertension, headaches, dizziness and syncope, dyspnea, skin condition, sleep disorder, and a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with recurrent major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder are denied.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood has been productive of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. The Board finds that the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating, as they are consistent with the current 30 percent disability rating.

Your appeals regarding earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed as the issues were not properly perfected.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder was denied. The Board found that the current severity of his service-connected PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete development and lack of compliance with previous remands. The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder, peripheral neuropathy, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and headache disorder are all being reviewed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and requests an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including anxiety, is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.