Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Veteran's earlier effective date for a 100 percent disability rating for bipolar I disorder with depressed mood and anxiety disorder is granted as of February 2, 2019.,The Veteran's entitlement to special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person is also granted.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 7, 2020 for the grant of a 100 percent disability rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder), but not earlier. The decision is based on evidence showing total occupational and social impairment from that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of unspecified anxiety disorder, finding that the earliest assignable effective date is May 6, 2021. The decision was based on final rating decisions in January and February 2013 and February 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's condition is related to his military service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) was granted in a December 2021 rating decision, effective January 5, 2021. The Board found that the evidence did not support an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and psychiatric disability was granted with an effective date of May 29, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of various disabilities, including hearing loss, psychiatric conditions, sleep apnea, GERD, ulcers, prostate issues, hyperlipidemia, neck, back, ankle, elbow, eye glaucoma, foot, hip, shoulder, wrist, and knee disabilities are being remanded due to incomplete records and need for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities is dismissed as moot because they have already been in receipt of a compensable disability rating for their anxiety disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, unspecified anxiety disorder, and unspecified depressive disorder due to a lack of evidence supporting the claimed stressors.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of November 3, 2020, for a 50 percent evaluation for migraines is granted.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of November 3, 2020, for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings for a TBI with unspecified anxiety disorder, dizziness, mild memory loss, insomnia and hypersensitivity to sound and light is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding the scheduling of a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety neurosis and personality disorder on a direct basis, finding no relationship between the current condition and the nonratable personality disorder diagnosed during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of adequate opinions in the original rating decisions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not result in the need for regular aid and attendance or permanent bedridden status at any time during the appeal period.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection on all six issues due to the NOD not being timely filed.

The Board dismissed the appeals as all claims were related to a deceased Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and her claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was initially rated at 30%, but the RO later adjusted it to 50% effective June 23, 2016. The rating was then raised to 70% effective March 28, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a failure to obtain VA medical opinions and examinations prior to the March 2022 rating decision.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board found that his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.