Anxiety decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand this case due to the need for an updated assessment by a VRC or CP regarding whether the Veteran's vocational goal is reasonably feasible and if changing his goal to pursue a master's or law degree is warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder) are granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for panic disorder with anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder was denied by the Board. The evidence showed occupational and social impairment, but not total impairment.

The Veteran's anxiety and depressive disorders prior to January 30, 2009 resulted in reduced reliability and productivity but not total occupational and social impairment. The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for this period.

Service connection for PTSD was denied, but service connection for depressive disorder and anxiety disorder to known medical condition with insomnia disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety condition, and stress disorder) was granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, unspecified anxiety disorder, and unspecified bipolar disorder, is granted as service-connected. Tinnitus was not demonstrated in or related to in-service acoustic trauma, did not manifest within one year of separation from service, or noted to be chronic during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, finding that the evidence does not support a causal link between her current diagnoses and care provided by the Indiana VAMC.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at a 50 percent disability rating for the period from December 29, 2017. The decision grants an increased rating for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his military service, including any reported sexual trauma. The examiner must address all diagnoses during the appeal period and provide opinions on whether each condition is at least as likely as not caused by or superimposed on his personality disorder.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has resulted in total occupational and social impairment since July 15, 2014. Her service-connected anxiety disorder is rated at 100 percent from that date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate rationale in previous VA medical examinations regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder. The case is now being sent back for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, resulting in a grant of TDIU. Additionally, his need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities has been established, leading to a grant of SMC.

Service connection for hypertension is granted under the PACT Act. An initial 70 percent rating for an acquired psychiatric disability, from February 24, 2011 to the present, is granted.

The Veteran seeks an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for her acquired psychiatric disorder, but the Board finds that she does not meet this criteria.,The Veteran's low back and bilateral hip conditions are remanded to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder was not found to meet the criteria for a higher rating from March 26, 2014 to August 3, 2015 and from August 4, 2015 to March 23, 2021.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inconsistencies in the examination findings and need for further medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee disorders, and initial ratings.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings and individual unemployability has been remanded due to the need to obtain private medical records related to his type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his active military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including his service connection claim. The Veteran is asked to provide updated private treatment records and a VA examination.