Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and erectile dysfunction, finding that additional development is needed due to conflicting medical opinions and new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than persistent depressive disorder and dismissed the claim for service connection of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The Veteran is already service connected for persistent depressive disorder, which encompasses the symptomatology of the other diagnoses. Service connection for IBS was granted in a December 2023 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and posttraumatic stress disorder), narcolepsy, sleep apnea, insomnia, and chronic fatigue due to additional development. The AOJ must document all participation in TERAs during the Veteran's service in VA's exposure tracking system and associate this record with the Veteran's electronic claims file.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The VA determined that there was no current disability of osteosclerosis, and the acquired psychiatric disability (general anxiety disorder) claim was also denied due to lack of a recent diagnosis. For the skin condition, the Veteran received a 10% rating effective February 19, 2020, for monilial dermatitis. The VA denied increased ratings for his diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure, but he does not have current hearing loss as defined by VA standards.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and chronic disability due to anger issues, all of which are associated with his 2008 deployment.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with prior remand instructions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, specifically addressing in-service marital conflicts and stressors.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, causing occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas but not total social and occupational impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was previously denied, but new evidence has been submitted. The Board has decided to reopen the claim and remand it for further development including an examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified anxiety disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder with chronic sleep impairment is granted secondary to service-connected tinnitus. The Board also found that the Veteran's hypertension, migraines, vertigo, left knee disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), right ankle disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), right foot disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), left foot disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), right leg varicose veins, and left wrist disorder are also granted secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining records and corroborating in-service stressors. The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and low back disability are currently pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for anxiety disorder, PTSD, and major depressive disorder due to outstanding medical records and the need for a VA mental disorders evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder is granted a disability rating of 100 percent, and the issue of entitlement to TDIU due to this condition is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder has been reopened and remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The Board finds that the additional evidence received is new and material, warranting reopening of the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions including coronary artery disease, anxiety disorder, peripheral neuropathies, diabetes, and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. He is granted a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the period of October 5, 2012 through July 12, 2023.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and service connection claims have been remanded due to insufficient development of medical records and exposure history.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder from October 30, 2018 to the present is denied. The severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms do not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, is granted. Additionally, the Veteran's increased rating claim for urinary tract infection with cystitis is granted at a 60 percent disability rating effective June 26, 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for a new examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as well as her initial rating for anxiety disorder, are being reviewed.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease, adjustment disorder with anxiety, and sexual dysfunction have been granted service connection. The rating for Parkinson's disease has been increased to 70 percent effective November 28, 2022, and the ratings for other conditions have been adjusted accordingly.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for generalized anxiety disorder and headaches, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to June 25, 2018. The Board found that the current assigned ratings adequately compensate the Veteran for his service-connected conditions.