Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, as well as the claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran was provided a VA examination that did not address his PTSD diagnosis, which may have impacted the severity assessment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder is denied as there does not appear to be any basis for such a request under the law.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The Board has remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding stressor events and a need for further medical examination.

The Board granted an effective date of November 8, 2018 for the award of a TDIU based on service-connected PTSD with generalized anxiety disorder. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to this date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection of his acquired psychiatric disabilities, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress, is now pending.

The Veteran's service-connected persistent depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder is granted an initial 50 percent disability rating, effective April 7, 2017.

The Board has determined that there are errors in the decision-making process regarding service connection for low back condition and unspecified anxiety disorder, necessitating further examination or opinion to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety due to military sexual trauma was dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased disability rating higher than 30 percent for the service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder with depression.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his PTSD rating, TDIU grant, and DEA benefits are dismissed as these issues have been properly adjudicated in a separate appeal stream.

The Veteran's PTSD with generalized anxiety and major depressive disorder caused total occupational and social impairment from October 26, 2012 through May 16, 2017. The Board granted a 100 percent rating for this period.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The evidence shows that the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired mental health disability, including depression, anxiety, insomnia, and substance use disorder, is rated at 70 percent effective February 20, 2015.,Effective November 29, 2017, the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is rated at 100 percent.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is rated at a 50 percent since January 6, 2020. The issue of service connection for PTSD is remanded due to the need for clarification on whether the Veteran has a diagnosis of PTSD caused by in-service trauma.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, is granted due to the Board finding that it is causally related to his active military service in Iraq during the Gulf War.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for earlier effective dates for service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Chronic Headaches, painful abdomen scars, and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

The Veteran's tinnitus and acquired psychiatric disorders of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder have been granted service connection as they are related to in-service noise exposure and psychological stressors, respectively.