Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for clarification on each diagnosed psychiatric disorder and a determination of whether any are related to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding various conditions and ratings, as the Veteran requested to withdraw all claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Adjustment disorder, Major depressive disorder, and Generalized anxiety disorder have been granted. The conditions are found to be related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety due to the need for further verification of stressor events and additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's nerve pain claim is dismissed because service connection for sciatic nerve impairment was granted in a previous decision. The anxiety disorder claim is remanded as it relates to the Veteran's PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder), hypertension, gout, right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, lower back DJD, neck disorder with pain and numbness down the hands, and COPD. The cases are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected major depressive disorder with anxious distress was granted, and he is now rated at 70 percent. The Board also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from November 28, 2016 to February 27, 2018.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress and generalized anxiety disorder is granted a 70 percent evaluation, effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to his military service.,The Veteran's neck disability is related to his military service.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is related to his military service.,The Veteran's low back disability is aggravated by his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service personnel records and the need to verify in-service stressors related to PTSD. The Veteran's claim for service connection is pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disability, specifically Generalized Anxiety Disorder. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the condition had its onset in service or is related to service-connected migraines and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depressed mood is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's hypertension has been rated noncompensably disabling (0%) and the Board does not find any basis to grant a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, requiring a new VA examination to determine the nature and severity of any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety, depressed mood and somatic disorder is granted a 30 percent rating effective March 21, 2019. The cervical strain condition remains at a 30 percent rating since that date. Service connection for posttraumatic degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for autism disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression) due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in failing to provide a VA examination. The Veteran contends that his conditions were present prior to service and aggravated therein.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus is remanded due to inadequate rationale in the VA examination.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate rationale in the VA examination.

The Veteran's initial claim for a 70 percent evaluation for service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder was granted. The Board also found that the Veteran's migraine headache disorder claim should be remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records, particularly related to the Veteran's acquired psychiatric conditions.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and GAD, finding that the evidence shows deficiencies in most areas of the Veteran's life due to these conditions.

The Veteran's chronic bipolar II disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder are related to a military sexual assault during service, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.