Anxiety decisions — 2025

The Board denied an earlier effective date and a higher rating for the Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder with alcohol use disorder, as well as remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for left ear hearing loss and service connection for right ear hearing loss, generalized anxiety disorder, and headaches.

The Board denied service connection for sciatica/nerve pain of the left side and an acquired psychological disability other than PTSD, but granted a 70 percent initial rating for PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for schizophrenia and unspecified anxiety disorder, but denied service connection for traumatic brain injury and readjudicated the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual employability (TDIU).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as there was not sufficient evidence to show that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The appeal is remanded to address the timeliness of a Notice of Disagreement regarding May 2016 and July 2016 rating decisions denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, diagnosed as adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, as well as insomnia, based on the Veteran's combat service in Vietnam.

The Board denied a rating greater than 70 percent for PTSD and granted service connection for tinnitus, while denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, pain dysfunction in the right shoulder, and hypertension.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection claims and higher initial rating claim, resulting in their dismissal.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of a psychiatric disability, including depression, anxiety, and alcohol use disorder, as the current VA examiner's opinion is found to be inadequate.

The Board granted an initial, 100 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and chronic fatigue, secondary to the acquired psychiatric disorder, due to a need for additional evidence.

The Board granted service connection for a mental disorder, including unspecified anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's post-traumatic residual coccyx pain and lumbar spine pain condition, but granted higher initial ratings for right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy. The appeal for service connection for bilateral cavus foot, plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, and generalized anxiety disorder was dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for a mental health disability but denied it for a right knee disability. The claims for back and left knee disabilities were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and sleep apnea. The effective date for the grant of service connection for herpes zoster was not earlier than March 22, 2020. An initial compensable rating for herpes zoster was also denied. However, an initial 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis, a 30 percent rating for chronic sinusitis, and a 70 percent rating for unspecified anxiety disorder were granted.

The Board denied service connection for irregular heartbeat, psychiatric disability (anxiety disorder and PTSD), prostate disability (prostatitis and benign prostatic hypertrophy), and foot fungus. The appeal as to entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension was dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew his entire appeal, and the Board dismissed all related issues.

The Board granted the restoration of a 70 percent rating for generalized anxiety disorder and persistent depressive disorder, finding that the evidence did not show improvement in the ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several service connection claims due to missing or unassociated private medical records.