Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to obtain complete treatment records and clarify the scope of his Gulf War syndrome claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors, including the failure to obtain VA and private treatment records from relevant periods. A psychiatric examination is also required.

Your appeal has been dismissed because the VA Form 10182 received on April 20, 2022 is a duplicate of an earlier form submitted on April 12, 2022. The issues you raised are identical to those in your previous appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board denies his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus for VA purposes, and therefore service connection is denied. The psychiatric disability claim remains pending as remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current anxiety disorder and in-service stressors. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that new and relevant evidence was not submitted to warrant readjudication.

The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder has been granted a rating of 70 percent, effective from February 24, 2020. The decision focuses on the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his occupational and social functioning.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination in connection with this claim, and the need for an opinion on whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified anxiety and depressive disorders, is currently rated at 50 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms were consistent with occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA opinions and potential secondary service connection issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with opioid use disorder is granted. However, the claim for service connection for personality disorder not otherwise specified with avoidant and obsessive compulsive disorder features (claimed as a depression and anxiety condition) is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder with TBI was denied as the evidence did not show total social and occupational impairment.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and panic attacks. The Board notes that the Veteran filed a claim in November 2018 and has continuously prosecuted it. However, due to missing service treatment records related to her pregnancy, which are most likely to contain information on her complaints and symptoms during her pregnancy, the duty to assist has not been fulfilled. The Board orders the AOJ to obtain these missing records.

The Veteran's CUE claim in a June 30, 1980 rating decision is being remanded for further adjudication. The original decision granted service connection for chronic urticaria with dermatographism but did not address the psychiatric disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for TDIU, an earlier effective date for service connection of unspecified anxiety disorder (previously rated as specific phobia, situational), and a rating in excess of 70 percent for this condition. The Board found that there was no evidence of prior service-connected conditions or new and material evidence to reopen the claim.

The Board has denied service connection for anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of these conditions separate from his already service-connected PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood results in occupational and social impairment, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating of 100 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain an opinion regarding how the appellant's service-connected disabilities, in combination with one another, impact his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The claim will be reconsidered after obtaining this additional information.