Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to September 21, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying in-service stressors and obtaining an addendum opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's anxiety and tinnitus.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent since August 6, 2010. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas but not total impairment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as adjustment disorder with anxiety (claimed as PTSD), has been rated at 50 percent since September 8, 2012. The Board found that the severity of his symptoms did not more closely approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating from October 1, 2015. He also received TDIU benefits effective from that date.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and private treatment records.

The Veteran's mental health condition was previously rated at 30 percent prior to December 29, 2019. Effective from that date, the rating has been increased to 70 percent.,Since December 29, 2019, the Veteran is now entitled to a higher disability rating for his mental health condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, ADHD, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD. The Veteran must be provided with a VA examination to determine the current nature and etiology of his diagnosed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including a depressive disorder and adjustment disorder, as secondary to PTSD. The evidence did not establish a causal relationship between the in-service event (coastal surveillance) and the current diagnosed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral tinea pedis and an acquired psychiatric condition due to incomplete records and the need for updated VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to February 3, 2019, finding that he was capable of securing and following substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current psychiatric conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and a low back disability have been reopened.,Service connection has been granted for the Veteran's anxiety disorder and depression disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's mental health disorders will be further evaluated, including obtaining service treatment records from his active duty and National Guard service periods.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses of unspecified anxiety disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, and dysthymic disorder are subsumed by his diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran is granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from August 9, 2013 to February 11, 2019.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.,The petition to reopen the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral pes planus, and bilateral plantar fascia are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder. The case is sent back to obtain additional medical records and a VA examination to determine if any of these conditions are related to military service, particularly considering the Veteran's reported MST.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression) as it is etiologically related to the Veteran's active service.