Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and the need for a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, are related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder with Anxiety, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, is related to her in-service military sexual trauma. Service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Board has granted a 70 percent initial rating for the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, which includes PTSD, unspecified anxiety disorder, and alcohol use disorder. The decision is based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and opinions to address his claims of service connection for various knee, headache, low back, and shoulder disorders. The Veteran will be provided with new VA examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date are being remanded due to the need to correct duty-to-assist errors.,A retrospective opinion is needed regarding the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's migraine headaches prior to June 22, 2017.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective January 21, 2020. The Board denied an earlier effective date.,The Veteran was granted eligibility for DEA benefits effective January 21, 2020. The Board denied an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is rated at 70 percent since July 16, 2019. The Board also granted a TDIU effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for effective dates prior to specific rating decisions related to anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in duty to assist and because the appeal is about service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The AOJ needs to obtain private mental health records from TriCare and complete a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected. The issues of entitlement to service connection for anxiety, bipolar disorder with depression, schizoaffective disorder, and degenerative disc disease are remanded.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder is rated at 50 percent, and the left knee condition remains at 30 percent.,The Veteran's request for a higher rating for his left knee condition was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error regarding verification of an in-service stressor and for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral flat foot and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran's pes planus may be aggravated by his service-connected hallux valgus, and his major depressive disorder is not caused but may be aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder was denied. The appeal for a higher initial rating in excess of 30 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy was also denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified depressive disorder and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, is granted as service connected.

The Veteran's initial rating for tinnitus was denied, and the claim for anxiety disorder based on new evidence received since the last decision is granted. Service connection for neck, right elbow, left elbow, right ankle, and left ankle disorders are all denied.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was submitted to warrant readjudication of the previously denied service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation of his unspecified anxiety disorder UAD is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination and potential duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his active duty service. The examiner must consider the Veteran's reports about symptoms in and after service, including how they align with known development of the disability.