Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus are all granted service connection.,Service connection for GERD is also granted as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disability, including generalized anxiety disorder with insomnia and mixed anxiety and depressed mood, was granted effective October 28, 2024. The decision is based on new evidence submitted after the December 2021 denial.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected eczema was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for any higher rating under VA's skin disability rating schedule.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied, with the Board noting that he had already been granted a 100% schedular rating due to multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors and remands the case for further action on service connection and TDIU issues.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral restless leg syndrome, bilateral tremors of the hands, chronic headaches, facial dermatosis, erectile dysfunction (loss of use of a creative organ due to varicocele), and varicocele. The Veteran's symptoms have been observed since his time in service.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, characterized as PTSD and alcohol use disorder, is now rated at 70 percent. The rating will be effective from the date of the April 2023 VA decision.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional medical opinions and evidence, as there are pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. The evidence shows that the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety and PTSD has been granted due to the submission of new evidence showing his current adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is related to his in-service symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety with depression effective April 17, 2022, finding that the March 2023 rating decision incorrectly applied the statutory or regulatory provisions and thus committed clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 50 percent for the appellant's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral plantar fasciitis. The right knee disability was continued at a 10% rating, and the appeal regarding the eye disability is remanded.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and TBI were combined into a single rating of 70% effective June 9, 2021. The AOJ found that the symptoms could not be differentiated.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for a new medical opinion to determine if it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and nightmare disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating was granted with an effective date of February 2, 2025. The Board found that the duty to assist error prevented a new VA examination until February 2026, and thus the appropriate effective date is the date of the supplemental claim.

The Veteran's PTSD with GAD and MDD is currently rated at 70 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation due to insufficient evidence of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals was dismissed because it was not filed within one year from the May 26, 2022 rating decision denying service connection for depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorders. The Veteran did not provide good cause for the late filing.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of his acquired psychiatric disability, including unspecified depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, and anxiety is remanded due to the need for a medical nexus opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GAD is denied as his anxiety symptoms are subsumed under PTSD.,Service connection for Right Shoulder Strain and Left Ankle Disability is denied due to lack of current diagnosis or evidence of functional impairment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety, chronic depressed mood, and mild alcohol use disorder, is rated at a maximum of 100 percent effective as of April 13, 2026.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The dental condition appeal was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal during a hearing. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression, anxiety, and PTSD) is denied.,Service connection for a left hip disability remains pending and will be remanded.