Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (unspecified anxiety disorder and depression) but denied service connection for right elbow, right shoulder, and neck disabilities. The case is remanded for further examination regarding the right shoulder and neck disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically adjustment disorder with mixed depression and anxiety, is related to his active duty service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the AOJ improperly severed service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, and restored it.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors and will need to correct these issues before making a decision on service connection for anxiety disorder and PTSD.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, diagnosed as adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression mood, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, resulting in a denial of the TDIU claim.

The Board found no evidence of a current acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, to support the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the appellant's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, particularly PTSD. The decision is pending further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for rectal bleeding and other specified anxiety with alcohol use disorder were reopened.,Service connection was granted for status post multiple surgical procedures for rectal abscess and fistula and rectal incontinence (claimed as rectal bleeding), an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder with psychotic features and generalized anxiety disorder, and alcohol use disorder and cannabis use disorder secondary to major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and chronic pain from recurring rectal fistula.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, is at least as likely as not related to his combat service. As a result, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is granted.

Hypertension and generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder have been granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active service. Dyslipidemia has not been granted as a disability for which VA benefits may be awarded.,The Veteran's thyroid disability, heart disability (claimed as related to herbicide agent exposure), recurrent cervical spine, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, ankle, foot disabilities, gout, kidney disability, scrotum cyst, sleep apnea, and vertigo have been remanded for further review. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to January 28, 2022, and in excess of 50 percent from January 28, 2022, to June 1, 2022, for migraine including migraine variants has also been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history, leading to the grant of a TDIU for the entire appeal period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to provide a VA examination and verify stressors, which could affect the determination of service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that the discontinuance of SMC was improper and restored it effective December 1, 2020 based on the Veteran's service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety and depression due to insufficient medical evidence on file. The Veteran reported in-service stressors, including unwanted advances and disciplinary actions, which may be related to her current psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood due to a duty to assist error in obtaining a proper opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's initial rating for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood was denied, as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His claim for TDIU prior to May 1, 2020, was also denied due to lack of schedular criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder (other specified anxiety disorder and other specified depressive disorder) is found to have caused or contributed substantially to his death due to acute intoxication from fentanyl and cocaine. The Board granted the claim for cause of death.