Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, Chronic Widespread Pain, and Anxiety Disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of his acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is being remanded due to incomplete evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions prior to September 18, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for anxiety disorder is being remanded due to incomplete treatment records and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, was reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The Board found that this condition is not related to his military service or his service-connected hepatitis C with cirrhosis.,The Veteran's request for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder, PTSD, and bipolar disorder, are related to his service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back, hip, shin splints, knee, and psychiatric disabilities are not adequately addressed by the VA examinations provided. Therefore, these claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified anxiety disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from October 2, 2015 to April 3, 2022.,The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified anxiety disorder did not result in total occupational and social impairment at any point during the appeal period.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him incapable of performing the physical and mental acts required by sedentary employment at any point during the applicable appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to non-compliance with previous Board directives.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including GAD, depression and PTSD, as well as a higher disability rating for her lumbosacral strain with IVDS are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for SMC due to the need for aid and attendance and/or being housebound is remanded. The case is also remanded to adjudicate the proposal to sever service connection for major neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer's disease, which is inextricably intertwined with the SMC claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and TBI residuals. The examiner is asked to provide a response considering the classified nature of USS Simon Lake's operations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder, bipolar disorder, and insomnia. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether there is additional disability resulting from a disease or injury that was superimposed upon the Veteran's personality disorder as a result of service.

Your claim for service connection for anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia has been dismissed as you opted into the modernized appeals system.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, is granted service connection. The Board found that the evidence was at least evenly balanced in favor of the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, delusional disorder, and anxiety disorder are not service-connected. The issues of rating for depressive disorder and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) with social anxiety disorder is already rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Formula for Mental Disorders. Therefore, a higher disability rating in excess of 70 percent cannot be granted.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the Veteran's pre-existing condition noted at entrance into service. The case is remanded for further development regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for hysterectomy prior to June 3, 2019 is denied. Beginning June 3, 2019, the Veteran is granted a rating of 50 percent for her service-connected hysterectomy. The claim for TDIU is also denied.