Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting entitlement to SMC based on aid and attendance.

An effective date of June 24, 2004, for the award of service connection for tinnitus is granted.,An earlier effective date of March 17, 2010, for the award of service connection for anxiety disorder, NOS and PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, but he is now granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including Major Depressive Disorder, Anxiety Disorder NOS, and Panic Disorder. The diagnoses are based on his in-service knee pain and subsequent mental health issues.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of his service-connected right shoulder condition was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's limitation in range of motion did not exceed 90 degrees, which is the threshold for a 20% rating under the old criteria. For IBS and gastritis, the Board remanded these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability and PTSD have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment, leading to a TDIU grant.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Bilateral Hearing Loss, and Right Ear Tinnitus) make him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has identified a pre-decisional duty to assist error due to the lack of a mental health examination for his TDIU claim.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, finding that the Veteran's current condition is causally related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, while his acquired psychiatric disabilities are also granted as they began during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, finding that his personality disorder is not related to service or his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder but no current chronic acquired psychiatric disability has been shown to be etiologically related to his service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a qualified examiner.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and disability ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims prior to the promulgation of a decision by the Board.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including unspecified depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, and opioid use disorder, has been rated at 50 percent since the appeal period began. The Board found that his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating of 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for anxiety, a cervical spine condition, depression, a lumbar spine condition, and migraine headaches due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to consider the Veteran's lay testimony regarding in-service injuries.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder with alcohol use disorder and PTSD alone rendered her unemployable prior to October 29, 2020. The Board granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, as the VA examination did not find a diagnosis of PTSD.,However, the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD (anxiety disorder with depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress) is granted based on evidence showing it is related to his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including persistent depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and insomnia, finding no evidence of a causal link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.

The Board dismissed the appeal for entitlement to service connection for a lower lumbar condition due to a deferred decision. The right knee and acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety, short-term memory loss) issues are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to a duty to assist error and the need to adjudicate secondary service connection for ankle disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to ensure all VA treatment records have been associated with the claims file, and then to adjudicate the secondary service connection claim.