Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder is manifested by symptoms that cause total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. Service connection for a bilateral upper extremity nerve disability is denied.

The Board has denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and has remanded the issue of service connection for tension headaches.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for anxiety and insomnia due to a lack of medical examination, which constitutes a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inconsistencies in the VA examiner's statements regarding his diagnoses of Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, as well as whether these conditions are related to service-connected PTSD. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a May 10, 2020, Mental Health Outpatient Treatment Plan and arrange for a VA examination to address the above issues.

The Board has dismissed all issues of increased evaluations and service connection due to the appellant's withdrawal of her appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left hands, and sciatica/neuralgia in both lower extremities are granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasons and bases for denying the Veteran's claim, specifically regarding her PTSD diagnosis and MST allegations. The case will be returned to the RO for further examination and consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence received, allowing for a reevaluation of service connection claims. The Veteran's claim for depression is reopened, but further examination and opinion are needed to determine if his current psychiatric disability is related to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including unspecified depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, are granted service connection. His right ankle disorder is denied as not caused by his service-connected left ankle disorder.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD and left ear hearing loss, but granted service connection for anxiety and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), recurrent lumbar strain, and bilateral hallux vagus.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder has resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent rating effective November 1, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to new VA medical treatment records received after the initial decision. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder and PTSD, remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to obtain a VA examination as requested in previous remands. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, is now pending and will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric condition and right hand injuries, rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment prior to August 31, 2015. From that date onwards, he was granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of all his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and bipolar disorder with depression, anxiety, and insomnia have been granted. The Veteran's cervical spine disability, lumbosacral disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, right ear hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, left toes stress fracture, and right toes stress fracture are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding their etiology. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) is also remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder with secondary alcohol use disorder, are found to have its onset in service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, while his dyslipidemia and other disabilities are denied. The case is remanded for further examination.