Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including generalized anxiety disorder with insomnia, migraine headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, and bilateral conjunctivitis, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for generalized anxiety disorder is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for back condition and gastrointestinal condition (GERD) are granted, with the latter being reopened based on new evidence.,Service connection for a back condition is established.

The Board has withdrawn the claim for left knee injury and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The remaining issues have been remanded due to outstanding records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, chest pain, and right hand disability due to unresolved issues. The psychiatric disorder claim is denied.

The claim for service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder was dismissed as moot due to a prior rating decision finding clear and unmistakable error.,Service connection for Back Condition and Left Knee Condition were both granted based on new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has decided to remand them due to insufficient evidence regarding in-service stressors and medical records.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood was granted a 70 percent rating, effective as of the date of the February 2023 decision. The Veteran also received a TDIU based on his service-connected condition.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU, finding that the Veteran did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU prior to December 11, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining missing service personnel records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and OSA are being reviewed again with new medical opinions provided.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder with anxious distress was granted on February 24, 2017. The effective date of this grant is set as February 24, 2017.,A 70 percent rating has been granted for the Veteran's depressive disorder with anxious distress since February 24, 2017.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is rated at 50 percent effective August 1, 2018. He was granted a TDIU based on his combined service-connected disabilities and service connection for headaches as secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty-to-assist error, and will consider all evidence submitted by the Veteran or her representative.

The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions, including degenerative arthritis and meniscal tears, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and anxiety), and residuals of a heat stroke are all remanded for further review.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety. The Board found no current disability of PTSD or an acquired psychiatric disorder, and concluded that any such disabilities are not related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for asthma and remanded the claims of PTSD, panic disorder, anxiety disorder, and depression due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete information regarding stressor verification.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for vertigo and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, depression, depressive disorder with pure dysthymic syndrome and severe anxious distress), and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate evidence or need for further development.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorder, finding that the evidence did not show a link to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder is denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease remains March 14, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including social anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, nightmare disorder, and unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder. The Veteran's symptoms were present in service and have continued since then.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified anxiety disorder, is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in approximate balance and concludes that his current psychiatric disability had an onset during active service.