Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to provide an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to his active service, specifically the inservice ship collision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, an unspecified anxiety disorder, fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal disorders (including irritable bowel syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease), obstructive sleep apnea, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, residuals of frostbite, and residuals of heat stroke have been granted. The claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder other than sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes chronic generalized anxiety, depressive disorder, and poly substance dependence in full remission, was denied. The Board found that the severity of the symptoms did not more closely approximate the criteria for a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with anxiety and depression was denied, but later granted in February 2022. The appellant is seeking attorney fees for this appeal, but the RO has ordered the release of the requested fees to the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional errors and insufficient medical opinions, requiring further examination and consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an eczema disability and acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety and persistent depressive disorders, is granted. The skin disability issue requires further examination to determine if it is related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been rated at 70 percent since January 9, 2019. The Board now grants a 100 percent rating effective from that date due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has found that the VA examiner's opinion was inadequate and remanded for an addendum to address specific issues related to the Veteran's psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for fibromyalgia was denied, and her TDIU was granted with an effective date of July 28, 2015. The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for lung cancer, anxiety, a low back condition, right foot tingling, left foot tingling, a bilateral eye condition, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypoglycemia, and headaches as it lacks jurisdiction over these issues due to concurrent elections.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at least 70 percent from April 4, 2011 to July 30, 2022. The appeal for a higher rating remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, facial scarring due to acne, and pseudofolliculitis barbae were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy has been dismissed as moot.,The appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed as unspecified anxiety disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, panic disorder, and insomnia disorder, is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychological condition, including depression and anxiety, is granted as service connected. The Board found sufficient evidence to support the claim that these conditions began during service and are related to his in-service symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal for a 10 percent evaluation based upon multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood (claimed as mental health condition) has been dismissed.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for the claims of service connection for anxiety condition and insomnia before a decision was made.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for major depression with anxiety disorder was denied, and the claim for TDIU prior to April 30, 2015, was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a bilateral foot condition should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for further examinations.