Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeals for a rating higher than 10 percent for left knee disability and service connection for right shoulder disability have been dismissed. The appeal of the TDIU issue has been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and the propriety of a rating reduction are being remanded due to incomplete Statements of the Case.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran's current psychiatric condition is being evaluated again with a focus on whether his service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his mental health issues.

The Board dismissed the appeal as there is no justiciable issue for consideration, specifically regarding a 50 percent rating for an anxiety disorder prior to October 24, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient clarification from the mental health clinician regarding the onset and superimposition of the Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood on his personality disorder. The clinician needs to provide a clear opinion on these issues.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was initially rated at 30% from September 11, 2001 to April 2, 2006. From April 3, 2006 to November 23, 2022, the rating was increased to 50%. The Veteran's condition improved during this period.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with panic attacks and depression is rated at 70 percent effective September 25, 2006.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, right arm disability (claimed as neuropathy), sleep disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder to include anxiety due to inadequate examination reports. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's statements are assumed true, and a VA examination is needed to address the nature and etiology of any diagnosed disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for insomnia, anxiety, and depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected bilateral tinnitus disability.

The Board has restored the original ratings for the Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS and traumatic brain injury, finding that the reduction in ratings was improper due to a failure to properly apply the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.344.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder was denied in January 1996. The effective date of the award is November 12, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea/hypopnea and did not grant an increased disability rating for major depressive disorder with anxiety and insomnia. The Veteran's current disabilities are already encompassed in the existing service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's IBS was granted a maximum schedular rating of 30 percent from June 17, 2022. The TDIU claim is denied prior to April 10, 2018. The PTSD with depressive disorder and anxiety issue requires additional development.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all contentions for the appeal scheduled before the Board.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for a left hip disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety. The claims are being remanded to obtain addendum opinions from the April 2023 examiners.

The Board has decided that the issue of service connection for an anxiety disorder must be remanded due to its interconnection with a pending Appeals Modernization Act appeal. The Veteran contends that his anxiety disorder is secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has restored the Veteran's SMC benefits from March 13, 2017 due to improper severance.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and unverified stressors. The Veteran's claims for PTSD and anxiety are being reviewed again with new evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (including schizophrenia, MDD, and anxiety disorder), low back condition, and cervical condition. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.