Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's diagnosed mental disorders are related to service. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The right knee disability and acquired psychiatric disorder claims are being reviewed again, with requests for additional medical records and an examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of anxiety due to lack of case or controversy. The claim for sleep apnea is denied, and the claim for migraines is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including the failure to obtain Vet Center records and VA medical records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not compensable, as the VA examination revealed no worse than Level IX in the right ear and Level I in the left ear.,There is no confirmed diagnosis of a gallbladder disability. The Veteran's current knee conditions are related to service due to trauma from crawling on his knees.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with alcohol abuse is granted a 50 percent rating, reflecting occupational and social impairment.,PTSD has been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, as well as an increased evaluation for PTSD, were denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a DSM-5 diagnosis for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for a higher PTSD rating and TDIU are being remanded due to errors in the pre-decisional duty to assist. The AOJ is instructed to develop employment history information, earnings information, and review non-VA mental health treatment records.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has not caused significant impairment in his occupational and social functioning, warranting a rating higher than the current 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and anxiety disorder should be remanded due to a lack of competent medical evidence to adjudicate the claim, despite meeting the low evidentiary standard in McLendon v. Nicholson.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of partial loss of lower jaw, generalized anxiety disorder, and simple glaucoma (bilateral dry eye syndrome) as her appeals were untimely.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent, but the Board has remanded for further development on service connection claims and an initial rating for bronchial asthma. The effective dates for TDIU, special monthly compensation, and DEA benefits are also being considered.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of a 70% rating for other specified anxiety disorder is dismissed. The claims for higher ratings for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome are denied, but the Veteran is granted TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for additional development due to receipt of relevant service department records. The Veteran's claims are related to his scar and psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's MDD with generalized anxiety as a residual of his hypothyroidism is granted effective January 8, 2021.,The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity essential tremors are secondary to and a residual of his service-connected hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a back disability were denied due to lack of new relevant evidence. The Board found that the Veteran did not provide any new evidence that could prove or disprove their claim, and thus, the claims are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety disorder, and psychosis, is granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The case is remanded for further consideration.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to 'bad drugs' received from VA treatment is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his acquired psychiatric disorders were caused by VA care.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for an unspecified anxiety disorder has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression, immature personality, transient situational (claimed as manic depressive/bipolar disorder and anxiety) has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.