Anxiety decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU eligibility. The Board finds some evidence suggesting that his disabilities may have rendered him unable to obtain and follow substantially gainful employment, but further development is needed before a decision can be made.

The Veteran's rating for major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder was reduced from 70% to 50%, effective December 21, 2019. The reduction is void ab initio and the prior rating of 70% is restored. Additionally, the Veteran was granted TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's petition for readjudication of his claim for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is dismissed. The petition for readjudication of his claim for sleep apnea is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to a lack of a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to provide an examination and seek a medical opinion, as it is necessary to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disabilities are related to active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a mental health disorder, including PTSD, and bilateral pes planus due to incomplete examinations and failure to address other diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for prostate disability, hypertension (HTN), acquired psychiatric disorder, right shoulder and hip disabilities, hepatitis C, bilateral pes planus, left shin splint, left hip disability, right shin splint, neck disability, right knee disability, and bilateral plantar fasciitis due to pre-decisional errors in the development process.

The Veteran's GAD with PDD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board found that his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and alcohol use disorder was dismissed as the claim has been granted by a prior decision.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance regarding whether it is related to military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors and remands the cases for further action.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claim for service connection for memory loss. The case is remanded due to a lack of an adequate VA examination in the context of the acquired psychiatric disorder claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and insomnia, is remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board finds that a VA examination is necessary to determine if his current diagnoses are related to his military service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has not manifested as total occupational and social impairment, thus the rating in excess of 70 percent for an unspecified anxiety disorder is denied.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression was incurred during service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The claims for migraines and scoliosis are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (characterized as anxiety and depression) and sleep apnea due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The claims are being returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has remanded the claim due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The case will be returned for a new examination and opinion from a clinician.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, and depression NOS and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood. The Veteran's reported symptoms in service are considered credible, and the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions began during active service.