Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood on and prior to November 2, 2020. The disability is currently manifested by depression and anxiety symptoms; a depressed mood; an affect congruent with mood; disturbances of motivation and mood; hypervigilance; marked insomnia; normal speech; normal thought form and content; normal concentration and memory; normal insight; normal judgment; and no suicidal or homicidal ideation or perceptual abnormalities.

The Veteran's discharge was due to a service-connected disability, allowing him to receive the maximum rate of Chapter 33 educational assistance benefits (100%).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD based on a personal assault during service is remanded due to insufficient attempts to corroborate the in-service stressor and incomplete review of his service records.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability is not related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder, PTSD, and generalized anxiety disorder, are found to be caused by his service-connected lymphocytic lymphoma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. §1151 and service connection for prostate cancer, anxiety disorder, and erectile dysfunction due to a delay in diagnosis and treatment of his prostate cancer.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for referral to the VA's Director of Compensation Service. The earlier effective date issue for TDIU is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, may have pre-existed service and were not clearly and unmistakably aggravated by service. Therefore, the case is being remanded for further examination to determine if these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to his in-service exposure to tactical herbicide agent(s). Service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and evaluation, including obtaining additional medical opinions to consider service treatment records and other evidence related to the Veteran's psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder, was granted a 70 percent rating effective May 2, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to verify in-service stressors. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, MDD, and social anxiety disorder, are being evaluated for their relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, based on the Veteran's consistent reports of stressors during his Vietnam service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or maintaining gainful employment prior to November 22, 2019.

The Veteran's LLE radiculopathy claim has been granted with increased ratings. The psychiatric disorder claim is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claim of service connection for a heart disability, including coronary artery disease. The case will be remanded to allow for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a stressor event involving the Veteran and another service member. The claim for service connection is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for residuals of cold weather injury, radiation poisoning, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and stress) due to VA's failure to obtain certain private treatment records and VA medical center records.

The case is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU claim. The AOJ must obtain updated VA medical records, provide a new VA examination, and ensure all issues are addressed appropriately.

The Veteran's major depression with anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent since May 24, 2023. The rating for TBI remains denied.