Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been dismissed as the claim was fully granted with a higher rating effective August 12, 2024.,Service connection for a left calf disorder is not warranted based on the lack of current diagnosis and no in-service event or disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and due process considerations, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to one service-connected disability, finding that he was not rendered unemployable based on only one of his service-connected disabilities. The decision is binding only with respect to this specific matter and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability.

The Veteran withdrew all issues on appeal, including those related to lumbar spine strain, cervical spine strain, left foot strain, right foot strain, migraines, hearing loss, anxiety condition, tinnitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and OSA as there is no new and relevant evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was rated at 0 percent prior to his October 3, 2022 claim. The Board found that the increase in symptoms occurred one year prior (October 3, 2021), and granted an effective date of October 3, 2021 for a 30 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances were not properly appealed due to a timing issue with the VA Form 10182. As such, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and anxiety and major depressive disorder due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during service, but not directly linked to service. His anxiety and depression may be related to harassment by leadership during service.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50% initially, and the Board granted a higher rating of 70% for the entire initial rating appeal period from September 9, 2014 to November 8, 2023.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining potentially outstanding TRICARE treatment records and failing to corroborate the Veteran's reported in-service stressors. Additionally, a VA examination is required to reconcile conflicting diagnoses and obtain adequate medical opinions regarding the pre-existence of psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claimed psychiatric disability, change in bowel pattern, hypertension, long head of biceps rupture, numbness of bilateral arms, right shoulder disability, and osteoarthritis are all denied. The Veteran's trigeminal neuralgia is also denied as his rating remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an anxiety condition is denied as her symptoms are already encompassed by her service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder.,The Veteran's claims for initial disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for patellar chondromalacia, left knee and right knee are remanded due to the need for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of December 9, 2019, for service connection for his acquired psychiatric condition is granted.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for his acquired psychiatric condition is denied. The current rating of 70 percent is considered the highest possible under the applicable criteria.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for anxiety/depression, bradycardia, hearing loss, left knee disability, low back disability, migraines, right ankle disability, and tinnitus due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ should provide an examination for the Appellant's bradycardia.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of a VA examination addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, which may be related to service. The Veteran seeks service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus was denied.,Service connection for anxiety, PTSD, and a bilateral lower leg condition were also denied. The hypertension and bilateral lower leg condition claims are remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, bilateral wrist condition, and bilateral foot pes planus are all granted as service-connected. The eating disorder claim is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected Social Anxiety Disorder resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, but not total impairment. The claim for a higher rating was denied.,The Veteran met the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood (claimed as chronic disability to account for depression) is granted, effective June 6, 2013. The decision acknowledges that VA had constructive possession of new and material evidence within one year of the December 2014 rating decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of major depressive disorder, bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder strain, anxiety disorder; and an increased rating for migraines. The appeal is dismissed.