Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's right ankle arthritis and acquired psychiatric disability are currently rated at 10 percent and 10 percent, respectively. The Board finds that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's primary insomnia, including symptoms of depression and anxiety, is rated at 100 percent disabling as of October 21, 2013. The Veteran also has a 70 percent rating for his service-connected primary insomnia prior to that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to August 1, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a cerebral concussion (claimed as a head injury) and a psychiatric disorder are being reconsidered.

The Board found that the current psychiatric disability is not causally related to service and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and PTSD.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there is no evidence of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a separately diagnosable psychiatric disability other than his already service-connected panic disorder without agoraphobia and PTSD. His anxiety and depression are symptoms of his service-connected psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, was incurred in service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's digestive system disability, including his liver tumor with IBS, is rated at 30 percent effective January 15, 2015. His hyperlipidemia and hypertension are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is at least as likely as not related to service, including his deployment in Iraq.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected anxiety disorder and obtaining any outstanding treatment records. The TDIU issue is also inextricably intertwined with the rating claim.

The Veteran's depression, NOS with anxiety was manifested by reduced reliability and productivity prior to May 2, 2011. From May 2, 2011 to October 22, 2014, the Veteran experienced total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's chronic headaches are at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected anxiety disorder, and if any medication he takes for his anxiety disorder causes or aggravates his headaches.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent prior to May 9, 2017, and increased to 50 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, the minimum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The symptoms described do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent, which reflects occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders, including recurrent major depression, dysthymia and generalized anxiety with panic, are at least as likely as not related to his military service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depressive disorders, has been rated at 50 percent since the beginning of the appeal period. This rating reflects significant occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.