Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric symptoms are directly related to events during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD to include depressive disorder and generalized anxiety is denied. The claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with tendonitis/tendinosis, unspecified headaches, and allergic rhinitis are granted. Service connection for chronic sinusitis and chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.

The Veteran's right little finger disability is rated noncompensable, as the maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic code does not account for his symptoms.,For PTSD, alcohol use disorder, circadian rhythm sleep disorder, shift work type with major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, the Veteran is granted a 100 percent rating based on total occupational and social impairment.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and somatic symptom disorder, as well as presumptive service connection for basal cell carcinoma under the PACT Act. Service connection was denied for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, right restless leg syndrome, left restless leg syndrome, an increased rating for psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, a left forehead surgical scar, and allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine pain, allergic rhinitis, and recurrent yeast infections. The claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder with alcohol use disorder and left knee pain were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for anxiety but denied it for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's sleep apnea was less likely than not related to his active service or service-connected acquired psychiatric condition.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA, but denied increased ratings for various service-connected conditions.

The appeal is remanded to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including the failure to obtain relevant treatment records and provide adequate VA examinations.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The appeal is remanded for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection for various acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied an earlier effective date and a higher initial rating for the service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, finding that the earliest possible effective date had been assigned.

The appeal for service connection for depression was dismissed as the claim was fully resolved by a subsequent rating decision. The appeal for service connection for anxiety was denied due to insufficient evidence of a current disability.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent for generalized anxiety disorder under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) was dismissed due to procedural error.

The Veteran's award of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted effective from April 15, 2017, solely based on his unspecified anxiety disorder. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied.

The Board granted an initial 70 percent disability rating for the veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.

The Board granted service connection for sleep disturbances, to include obstructive sleep apnea, as secondary to an anxiety disorder. The increased rating claim for the anxiety disorder was denied, and the heart condition claim was dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for GERD as it was aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, but denied service connection for ED due to a lack of evidence showing a current diagnosis. The issue of entitlement to service connection for anxiety is remanded.

The Board granted service connection for an unspecified anxiety disorder with alcohol use disorder in sustained remission, denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than an anxiety disorder or alcohol use disorder (depression and insomnia), and denied service connection for erectile dysfunction.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back pain, knee and wrist joint pains, neck pain, anxiety, depression, as further development is needed to properly adjudicate these claims.