Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, adjustment disorder and anxiety, and a low back disability have been remanded due to the need to verify in-service stressors and obtain additional medical opinions.,New evidence has been received that may support the Veteran's claims, including buddy statements regarding his mental health after service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for her anxiety disorder and TDIU was granted. She is now rated at 50% prior to September 10, 2014, and 70% thereafter. The decision also grants TDIU.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD but has remanded the issue of service connection for any acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include schizophrenia paranoid type, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran's claims are pending resolution.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for anxiety, eosinophilic esophagitis with GERD, liver disease, hyperlipidemia and left bundle branch block (claimed as heart disease), and PTSD due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's claims are not supported by credible evidence of in-service stressors.

The Board denied service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety as there is no current disability of this condition at the time of the claim or during its pendency.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left wrist disability has been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right wrist, acquired psychiatric disabilities (depression and anxiety), residual scars of the right upper extremity, residual painful scars of the right upper extremity, and right shoulder disabilities manifesting in glenohumeral joint dislocation and limitation of motion.

The Veteran was granted a 70 percent disability rating for bipolar and generalized anxiety disorders from April 20, 2018, to October 2, 2019.,A TDIU was denied prior to April 20, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Barrett's esophagus, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding potential toxic exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric conditions, which are presumed to be related to service.

The Veteran's chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is granted service connection, but there is no current diagnosis of sleep apnea.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, erectile dysfunction (presumed secondary to a service-connected condition), and respiratory disorders (allergies and asthma). The evidence does not support finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder has rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from February 24, 2021, onward. Additionally, she has additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or greater, qualifying for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's service-connected Crohn's Disease and panic disorder with generalized anxiety disorder render him unable to secure or maintain a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for Heart Condition, Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (including PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder), Deep Vein Thrombosis of the right leg, Deep Vein Thrombosis of the left leg, and Sleep Apnea due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric conditions, including PTSD with mood disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety, and schizophrenia, are rated at 100 percent effective from the date of the award of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than July 26, 2010, for the grant of service connection for a psychiatric disorder was denied. The appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for generalized anxiety disorder was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with PTSD is rated at a 50 percent rating, effective prior to April 25, 2019.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disabilities other than PTSD, right and left foot disabilities, and bilateral lower extremity sciatica. The appeals are remanded for additional development.