Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Board granted an increased initial rating of 70 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, and insomnia disorder, but denied higher ratings or service connection for other conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder. The VA examiners found no current diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder in the record.

The Board has granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's preexisting anxiety worsened during service and is related to his experiences as an aircraft maintenance specialist.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a psychiatric disorder (specifically generalized anxiety disorder), and a skin condition are being remanded due to the need for further examination and medical opinion.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression, anxiety condition, PTSD, nightmares, suicide, and memory loss, are remanded due to inadequate VA examination in November 2021.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically not affording the Veteran a mental health VA examination for his claimed psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of his acquired psychiatric disorder was granted. His initial rating for the acquired psychiatric disorder remains at 70 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to his in-service stressor of experiencing physical and verbal abuse during 'blanket parties' in basic training. After resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is granted.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board found no evidence of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. Therefore, a higher rating was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than panic disorder, to include PTSD and major depressive disorder; service connection for hypothyroidism; and increased rating for residuals of right thumb fracture due to duty-to-assist errors. A VA examination is required for all issues.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, combined with his irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), has prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since August 26, 2019. The Board finds that a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is warranted.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has not been received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, spinal cord tumors, anxiety, and otogenic vertigo are remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board has decided that service connection for plantar fasciitis is denied. The remaining claims of service connection for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchitis with chronic cough, anxiety, depression, insomnia, headaches, acid reflux with nausea, benign prostatic hyperplasia with voiding dysfunction, kidney stones, cervicalgia, lumbago, sciatica, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral elbow epicondylitis, a left knee condition, and right knee strain are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to a duty to assist error and potential extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder is granted. Claims for service connection for migraines and sleep apnea are denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and lumbosacral strain, finding that there is no evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied service connection claim for an unspecified anxiety disorder, but is now considering whether he may have PTSD or another acquired psychiatric disability. The issues of a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and separate ratings for sciatic radiculopathy are also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have necessitated his reliance on others to attend to his daily personal activities, and the Board has determined that he requires regular aid and assistance due to his service-connected conditions. As a result, special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of sleep apnea is causally related to his service-connected shoulder impingement syndrome with glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, degenerative arthritis of the spine with spinal stenosis, and left lower extremity sciatica, radiculopathy. Therefore, service connection for sleep apnea is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety, depressed mood, insomnia, panic disorder and alcohol use disorder is granted.