Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, but with a noncompensable evaluation effective April 30, 2020. The Board also remanded several other issues related to various conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, as well as right knee strain. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the right knee issue.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected anxiety disorder is granted. The VA examiner found no evidence of chronicity of care complaints or treatment related to hypertension in service records or within 10 years post-discharge.,Service connection for heart condition as secondary to service-connected disabilities is granted. The VA examiner determined that the heart condition and service-connected disabilities are unrelated diseases with different pathophysiological processes.,The Veteran's prostate condition remains remanded, as does his TDIU claim due to unresolved issues related to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as the effective date of August 17, 2017 has already been granted. The appeal for an earlier effective date to Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional error in providing VA examinations. The Veteran is still seeking service connection for insomnia/unspecified anxiety disorder and bilateral plantar fasciitis, with the latter potentially related to his service-connected degenerative disc disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for fibromyalgia and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of military personnel records, potential toxic exposure during service, and inadequate VA examinations. The claims are being remanded to obtain these records and conduct further evaluations.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits are granted effective February 15, 2012. The Board found the Veteran unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of December 7, 2018 for the award of service connection for depression with anxiety.,Service connection for radiculopathy in the left lower extremity as secondary to lumbar spine disability is granted. The Board also found that there was a current diagnosis of radiculopathy during the appeal period and remanded for further examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy in the right upper extremity, including as secondary to lumbar spine disability and/or left shoulder disability, is remanded. The Board also found that there was a current diagnosis of radiculopathy during the appeal period and remanded for further examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy in the left upper extremity, including as secondary to lumbar spine disability and/or left shoulder disability, is remanded. The Board also found that there was a current diagnosis of radiculopathy during the appeal period and remanded for further examination.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 9, 2019 for basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under 38 U.S.C. chapter 35 is granted.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is rated at 50 percent, but no higher, due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance and resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran. The stressor related to the death of his friend during service was found to be credible.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for somatic symptom disorder, including unspecified depressive and generalized anxiety disorders as secondary to tinnitus, is dismissed because the issue was previously addressed in a Supplemental Claim that was still pending at the time of the Board Appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial compensable rating for tension headaches and service connection for an unspecified anxiety disorder due to in-service events. The Veteran's claims are pending further review.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since January 17, 2024. The rating is based on the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his ability to work.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and unspecified anxiety disorder have been evaluated, but his OSA claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.,VA treatment records indicate the Veteran has OSA, which had its onset during service. The issue will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The claim of service connection for an acquired mental health disability (claimed as anxiety/stress) has been granted by the AOJ, but the appeal is dismissed as moot due to the grant.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection for the purpose of establishing eligibility to treatment and denied claims for PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's disability rating for his psychiatric disorder was reduced from 70 percent to 30 percent. The Board has restored the original 70 percent rating due to a lack of evidence showing improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions and their relationship to service. The Veteran was previously denied service connection for PTSD, but new evidence suggests he may have a current diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than persistent depressive disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded due to incomplete VA examination and insufficient private opinions. A new VA examination with a psychiatrist or psychologist is needed.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment.