Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety disability is now rated at 70 percent, effective June 6, 2019. The decision also granted service connection for PTSD and Recurrent Major Depressive Disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left leg numbness (claimed as left leg disability), and anxiety due to incomplete development of records and need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, as well as his right shoulder disability. The claims for increased ratings are being returned for further development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder, and PTSD; and sleep apnea. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including GAD, PTSD, and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development. The AOJ will schedule the Veteran for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the etiology of his psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric conditions, including TBI, are granted at a 50% rating prior to October 27, 2014 and at a 70% rating from August 2, 2019 until July 13, 2022. A separate compensable rating for residuals of the TBI is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for a psychiatric disability, including anxiety and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a more current examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his left ankle injury, bilateral hearing loss, high blood pressure, acquired psychiatric disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further development is required.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder has been granted a 70 percent rating effective from August 20, 2018. The claim for an earlier effective date of March 17, 2013 is also granted.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired mental health conditions, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, are at least as likely as not related to his service or to in-service stressors. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including breathing disorder, back disorder, headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee disorder, heart disorder, painful joints, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, obesity, vision disorder, intestinal disorder, and sleep apnea. The Board also notes that no presumptive service connection is being considered for any of the conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with anxiety, did not begin during or is otherwise causally related to active service, specifically his time stationed on border patrol in Germany.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right ankle disorder, and left knee disorder have been denied. The issues are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety, as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis and the medical examination did not find any mental health condition.

The Veteran's mental health symptoms have most closely manifested in occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood (contemplated by a 70 percent rating). The claim for an initial increased rating of 70 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at 50 percent for the period prior to November 8, 2018. The Board has found a 50 percent disability rating is warranted throughout the appeal period. Service connection for hypertension secondary to lumbar spine disability is remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of left knee disability, left heel cold injury, mood disorder with anxiety, and ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure as the appellant withdrew her appeal.