Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine is rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded this issue for further examination.,Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 100 percent for service-connected depression and anxiety disorder was denied.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from October 11, 2018 to November 2, 2023. The appeal for a TDIU since November 2, 2023 is dismissed as the Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome and anxiety disorder combined rating of 100% already qualifies him for special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria.

The Veteran's sleep apnea with CPAP is caused by his service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, which led to weight gain that resulted in the sleep apnea.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service connection claims for anxiety, PTSD, back disability, headaches, craniopharyngioma, and OSA have all been granted. The Board found that the current diagnoses are etiologically related to in-service stressors and events.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depressive disorders, finding that there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with persistent insomnia is related to his military service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's migraines were rated at 30 percent, but the Board found that they did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.,For her unspecified anxiety disorder with associated depression, the Veteran was assigned a 50 percent rating. The Board determined that she met the criteria for this rating based on symptoms such as flattened affect, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty establishing effective work and social relationships.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood, and Anxiety, are found to be due to his in-service stressor of fear of hostile military activity. As such, service connection is granted.

The Board has granted a July 28, 2022 effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran began and saved his online fully developed claim on that date.

The appeal for service connection for tinnitus is dismissed. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, asthma, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety and depression) are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of unspecified mental disorder to include PTSD, depression and anxiety is denied. The Veteran's initial rating for this condition has been granted at a 50 percent evaluation, but no higher. The Veteran also received eligibility for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically in obtaining SSA records and service treatment records. The Veteran is also being asked to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic anxiety disorder, including obsessive-compulsive disorder and specific phobia (claustrophobia), has been granted a 100% disability rating. The issue of entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is moot due to the grant of a total rating for anxiety disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for depression due to a lack of evidence of a current diagnosis under the DSM-5.,The Board has also remanded the claims for unspecified anxiety disorder and insomnia, as there are insufficient medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating of 50 percent for chronic adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression is granted, effective from July 23, 2018. The claim for an earlier effective date of July 23, 2018, but no earlier, for the award of service connection for chronic adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression is also granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, finding that his acquired psychiatric condition is related to military sexual trauma during service.

The Veteran's PTSD and adjustment disorder are rated at 70 percent, effective June 14, 2019. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and will schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric condition other than PTSD is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in VA's duty to assist, specifically regarding the verification of the Veteran's claimed stressors and the examination for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim will be reconsidered with additional evidence and a new examination.