Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and anxiety are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current mental health disorders and his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, left ankle disabilities, right ankle disabilities, left knee disability, and left little finger disability. The evidence did not support current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and current diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder are granted as service-connected. The Board found the evidence in equipoise regarding a nexus to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and TBI did not result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to January 29, 2018.,After January 29, 2018, the Veteran's psychiatric disability did not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 70 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, which is claimed as related to his service during the Gulf War.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and vocational background.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for DEA benefits, finding that basic eligibility to DEA was established from May 29, 2018 when the combined disability rating became permanent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for anxiety disorder and TBI residuals, finding that they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating than currently assigned. The case is remanded to further develop or adjudicate the issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and left testicle epididymitis, finding no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and anxiety have been rendered moot due to the grant of service connection in a January 2024 rating decision.,Service connection has not been established for lumbar spine condition, sleep apnea, or right 5th metacarpal fracture. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability evaluation for acute intermittent tension headaches.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent for the service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, effective from February 27, 2023. The Veteran's symptoms have caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board is unable to adjudicate the earlier effective dates for service connection as they were not addressed in the June 2022 rating decision. The case must be remanded for development and adjudication of these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, specifically his unspecified depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. The VA examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion addressing these matters.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for entitlement to individual unemployability from November 1, 2018. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection of OSA secondary to his service-connected conditions. The VA must provide an adequate medical examination and obtain a proper opinion on whether the Veteran's OSA is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected depression disorder and/or right hip disability.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for hypertension, as it is insufficiently addressed by the June 2020 VA opinion and requires further medical evaluation.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, persistent, is rated at 50 percent. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms did not more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has found that there was a duty to assist error and remands the claims for further development due to missing treatment records.