Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has not been shown to meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating, and his symptoms have not resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, specifically Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, was rated at 70 percent from February 4, 2021 to November 17, 2021. Since then, the rating has been denied for a higher level of disability.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and etiology opinions provided prior to the rating decision on appeal were inadequate, as they did not adequately address all the claims and theories of entitlement reasonably raised by the evidence of record. The issues are therefore being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, MDD, and GAD have been granted as they are all found to be related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's sleep apnea disability is at least as likely as not caused by his service connected psychiatric, back, and lower extremity disabilities. The Board granted the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to address his claims for service connection due to the implicit denial of these claims within the context of the SMC claim. The VA must fulfill its duty to assist in substantiating these service connection claims.

The Veteran's proposed reduction in the evaluation of adjustment disorder from 50 percent to 30 percent was dismissed because no decision had been finalized and his disability rating remained at 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, and general anxiety disorder due to pre-decisional errors in the duty to assist.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of anxiety disorder and depression, effective from August 31, 2024. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's anxiety disorder. The claim will be reconsidered with an additional VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, and migraine headaches have been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings were denied. The Veteran was granted a 10% rating for unspecified anxiety disorder as of July 1, 2022, but the appeal is pending for ED and depression.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on housebound status beyond September 1, 2019 was denied as she no longer met the criteria for this benefit after that date.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date prior to October 29, 2021, and a rating more than 70 percent for her acquired psychiatric condition.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date was granted by the May 2024 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.,His low back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, anxiety) are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an adequate opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed generalized anxiety disorder. The AOJ will obtain such an opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, ankle and knee disabilities, low back disability, anxiety/depression, insomnia, sleep apnea, and headaches, did not begin during or are otherwise related to service. As such, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, hearing loss, right foot condition, and right toe condition are related to service. However, due to a lack of VA examination for his unspecified anxiety disorder prior to the initial increased rating claim, the case is remanded for further evaluation.