Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected headaches and anxiety disorder have been granted increased ratings, with the headache rating now at 30 percent effective from June 17, 2017. The initial rating for anxiety disorder and adjustment disorder has also been increased to 50 percent effective from January 11, 2011.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his current anxiety disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD claim was denied, but he is granted service connection for other psychiatric disabilities including Adjustment Disorder and Anxiety Disorder. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board has remanded the case to verify in-service stressors and provide an opinion on whether his current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. The case will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including psychosis, depression, and anxiety, is being remanded due to inadequate VCAA notice and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, right lower extremity radiculopathy, chronic lumbar strain with mild disc disease, migraines, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of July 27, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's personality disorder, by itself, is not a compensable disability and does not superimpose onto an acquired psychiatric disability during or as a result of service. The Board also found no evidence to support service connection for migraine headaches or sleep disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed persistent depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder were incurred in service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder has been found to more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a back disability and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his in-service stressor involving wrongful imprisonment and interrogation.

The Board found no evidence of a service-connected psychiatric disability, and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for TMJ dysfunction, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, anxiety, and a mood disorder), residuals of TBI, left hip disability, left knee disability, low back disability, and increased rating for service-connected left foot disability have been granted.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety is currently rated at 70 percent, effective September 25, 2015. The Board finds that a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential exposure to herbicide agents and an in-service stressor. The issues of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, type II diabetes mellitus, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals in their entirety prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as anxiety disorder, is found to have been incurred in service. The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain (low back) and thoracic paraspinous myofascial pain syndrome are currently rated at 10 percent prior to October 21, 2016.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including a depressive disorder, an anxiety disorder, and a psychosis NOS, is found to be etiologically related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be fully adjudicated, including obtaining records from JSRRC and VA eye examinations. The Veteran's service connection claims for psychiatric disorders, bilateral eyes, shoulders, knees, and spine are all remanded.