Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to reconsider the previously denied claims of service connection for anxiety, dermatitis, left wrist condition, right wrist condition, low back pain, neck pain, sinusitis, migraine headaches, and TBI. The claims are being remanded for further adjudication.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his bilateral hearing loss and unspecified depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder have been denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Veteran's bowel disturbance is granted a 30 percent rating, but no higher. The Veteran's service-connected fatigue as a symptom of her Multiple Sclerosis is also granted.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they do not meet the criteria for a 50 or 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, warranting a disability rating of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore denied service connection for PTSD. The claim for Generalized Anxiety Disorder is remanded due to an inadequate VA opinion.

The Veteran's claim for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea was denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as anxiety), depression, insomnia, and social adjustment disorder were all denied due to the lack of persuasive evidence of a current disability during or shortly before the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of his right shoulder disability is granted, with an effective date prior to the May 27, 2023, VA Form 10182 submission.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder was rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that it did not warrant a higher rating due to symptoms being controlled by medication or resulting in occasional decrease in work efficiency.

The Veteran's 50% rating for generalized anxiety disorder and insomnia disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder is restored to July 1, 2020.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for peripheral vestibular disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder including depression, anxiety, and insomnia, and GERD. The appeal for TDIU was also dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were addressed in a September 2020 rating decision, which granted the requested effective dates.,The Veteran was granted service connection for an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression associated with GERD with H. Pylori status post laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication with residual bloating, flatulence, and inability to vomit, to include IBS.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, a right-hand disability, and a vision disability due to errors in providing adequate notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing on supplemental claims.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, alcohol use disorder, and other stimulant disorder due to a failure to provide a medical examination in furtherance of the Veteran's claim. The Veteran reported experiencing a traumatic event during basic training that resulted in the death of a fellow recruit, which he believes contributed to his current mental health conditions.

The Veteran's claims for left and right shin splints, as well as psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder), have been denied due to lack of current diagnoses. The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and erectile dysfunction.,Service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is also being remanded because there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error in failing to seek an examination with opinion.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the April 1, 2020 rating decision was dismissed as he did not timely file a VA Form 10182 and good cause has not been shown to extend the filing deadline.

Effective dates of May 20, 2019, have been granted for the service connection of generalized anxiety disorder, degenerative arthritis of both knees and the thoracolumbar spine, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for a thyroid disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to potential errors in obtaining necessary medical opinions and evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death was not related to service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder, is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The AOJ must develop the Veteran's reported stressor(s) and schedule him for a VA psychiatric examination.