Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the nature and likely cause of any psychiatric disability diagnosed during the appeal period. The Veteran's anxiety began during his deployment, with symptoms exacerbated after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for joint pain and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient examination findings and lack of clear reasoning in the November 2017 VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for a right hand disability, left hip disability, and an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for hemorrhoids. The Veteran's anxiety disorder is granted as it began during active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and determined that his current diagnoses of PTSD, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, and alcohol use disorder are related to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to withdrawal by the appellant. The appeals for service connection for a psychiatric disability and a right thumb disability are remanded.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is rated at a 50 percent disability rating since January 26, 2017. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for service-connected psychiatric (anxiety disorder) and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, specifically Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, has been granted a rating of 70 percent from October 16, 2015. Additionally, the Veteran was granted TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her back disability and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded multiple times. The case is being returned to the Board due to incomplete development, including missing examination notification letters.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and alcohol use disorder have been rated at a 70 percent disability level since July 2018. The Board also granted TDIU from August 5, 2011.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection of a psychiatric disability, and has remanded his claims for lower back disabilities and left thigh numbness.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left great toe disorder has been granted.,The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for psychiatric disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to uncertainty about the specific dates of all periods of Active Duty Training and Indefinite Non-Training Duty (ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA) in the Veteran's Reserve service. The claims will be reconsidered after this development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depressive disorder, and unspecified anxiety disorder. The decision is based on credible supporting evidence of in-service personal assaults that led to PTSD.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with alcohol use disorder and major depressive disorder with anxious distress has been rated at 50 percent for the appeal period prior to January 1, 2021. The claim is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claims. The claim for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of April 21, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is reopened, and the Board has remanded several issues including service connection for various psychiatric disorders, upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies, TBI residuals, and migraine headaches. The claims are also remanded to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder with psychotic features and generalized anxiety disorder, as secondary to his service-connected prostate disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the asthma claim, and denied service connection for anxiety disorder, right foot disability, and right ankle disability due to lack of in-service injury or diagnosis. Service connection was also denied for a back disability as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity from June 14, 2018, received a separate rating.