Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder and depression. The AOJ needs to obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician to determine if the Veteran had a diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disability at any time during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his service-connected PTSD is denied because he did not continuously pursue the prior claim for anxiety and bi-polar disorder, which was last denied in September 2020. The new initial claim for PTSD was filed in October 2020.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 24, 2017 for TDIU was denied. The earliest effective date for TDIU is granted on February 24, 2017 when the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder was rated at 70%.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood disorder and left knee disability, with obesity being an intermediate step in its development.

The Board has granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's in-service stressors, including his military occupational specialty as an explosive ordnance disposal technician.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty to assist error regarding mental health records from Indiana State University. The claim will be readjudicated after obtaining these records.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder prior to February 12, 2021, was denied. The effective date for the award of an acquired psychiatric disorder was not established as it is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder must be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in failing to schedule a VA examination. The examiner is requested to provide opinions regarding the nature and etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, anxiety, heart attack, torn rotator cuff, right shoulder, and ruptured achilles tendon, left foot. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to a failure of the Regional Office (RO) to provide VA examinations. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and residuals of a torn right hamstring are not yet determined to be related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for heart disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's assertions regarding his conditions are considered credible, but VA must make reasonable efforts to obtain private medical records from any identified sources.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for an anxiety condition, and the Board dismissed it.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's diagnosed mental health disabilities, including depression and anxiety, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not incurred in service.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a compensable rating for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (claimed as insomnia, worry, and depression) due to an inadequate VA examination in the initial decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of her bilateral knee disabilities, hypothyroidism, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions addressing direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in the pre-decisional duty to assist. The AOJ will consider additional evidence and obtain new medical opinions regarding the etiology of the right shoulder disability and acquired psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder have been granted a 100 percent rating, indicating total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety was granted. The claims for service connection for lumbar and left foot disabilities were remanded due to the need for additional development.