Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Veteran's MDD with GAD is rated at 50 percent effective February 5, 2019.

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error in the evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder and migraine headaches. Therefore, the claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disability are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors, including the need to obtain complete service personnel records and treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and a right shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and gastroesophageal reflux disease due to outstanding development needs.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of August 4, 1993 for the award of service connection for major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, is granted as secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches. The effective date for the grant of service connection for migraine headaches is September 1, 2005.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, specifically requesting the dismissal of claims for anxiety/mood changes/sleeplessness and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and alcohol use disorder required inpatient hospital treatment for a period exceeding 21 days, leading to the grant of a temporary total disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder and anxiety, as well as personality disorder. The evidence did not support the claim that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder is granted, and his duodenal ulcer is granted as a direct service connection. The compensable rating for the duodenal ulcer surgical scar is denied.

The Board dismissed the appeals for temporary total rating for lumbar spine fusion, service connection for depression and anxiety. The claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction was readjudicated and granted as secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a lack of VA treatment records from the Veteran's private psychiatrist, Dr. P.R., which may be relevant in determining whether his psychiatric and/or cognitive symptoms worsened prior to his December 2012 claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and left groin disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood) is granted. The appeal for a higher rating for his lower back disability is dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal prior to the Board decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remands and inadequate examination. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, are being reviewed again for proper service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a DRO hearing.

The Board has found that a remand is warranted to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error and obtain additional information from the Veteran concerning his stressors and in-service injuries. A VA examination will be scheduled for the Veteran to determine if any of his claimed psychiatric disabilities had their onset during service or are otherwise etiologically related to such service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, requiring additional medical opinions on whether the Veteran's psychiatric conditions are related to his military service and/or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disabilities.