Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the cases of PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder for further development due to newly obtained VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to August 3, 2022, finding that there was no reasonable possibility of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has found that the VA did not substantially comply with its prior remand orders regarding scheduling of medical examinations for the Veteran's service connection claims. The appeals are therefore being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, specifically Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Unspecified Depressive Disorder, is rated at 70 percent. The Board denied a higher rating as the evidence does not show total occupational and social impairment.

An initial rating of 50 percent for bipolar disorder with anxious distress (previously rated as major depressive disorder with anxiety and alcohol use disorder, in partial remission; claimed as depression) is granted from May 1, 2018, through August 8, 2018.,Entitlement to a compensable rating for migraines prior to August 6, 2019, is denied. A rating of 50 percent for migraines as of August 6, 2019, is granted.

The Board has determined that there are errors in the decision regarding service connection for various conditions and requires additional medical opinions to address these issues.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted for this period.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, finding that the onset of these conditions occurred during service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions including thoracolumbar spine disorder, anxiety, depression, headaches, tinnitus, and an eye disorder due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examination and failure to consider evidence of military sexual trauma (MST). A new VA examination is required.

The Veteran's depression and anxiety are currently rated at 50 percent, but a higher 70 percent rating is granted effective January 23, 2014. The earlier effective date for TDIU prior to December 29, 2017 is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbar spondylosis, and bilateral feet condition have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence or examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and various depressive disorders. The VA examiner is to review the medical records, consider the Veteran's contentions about in-service trauma, and provide a new opinion on whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and instructed the RO to obtain SSA records, associate copies of deferred rating decisions with the file, and provide a written statement of reasons for its findings.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his acquired psychiatric disorder has been withdrawn by the Veteran, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including hyperlipidemia, hypertension, peripheral vestibular disorder, a disability manifested by passing out, obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, low back disability, psychiatric disorders, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous remands. The Veteran's claims are back before the Board.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric condition, specifically schizophrenia. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's schizophrenia had its onset in service and if his behavior issues were initial manifestations.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the remand requests and therefore, this claim must again be remanded. The Veteran is seeking higher initial ratings for a service-connected psychiatric disability and right ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple sclerosis and its related secondary conditions, including neurogenic bladder, numbness in the upper and lower extremities, GAD, cervical myelopathy/IVDS, muscle pain and spasticity, vertigo, and fecal incontinence.,Service connection was also granted for rectal cancer pursuant to the PACT Act.