Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, right hand disability, left hand disability, chronic headaches, skin disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability (unspecified anxiety disorder, other specified depressive disorder, and somatic symptom disorder).

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD, anxiety disorder, and nightmare disorder was denied. The Veteran also appealed for TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD. Both appeals were granted.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be at least as likely as not due to his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder, anxious distress, and generalized anxiety disorder. The right sacroiliac joint dysfunction and TBI claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 12, 2013 for the award of service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood. The Veteran's claim was continuously pursued from July 13, 2012 until it was granted in April 7, 2023.

The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder is rated at a 70 percent evaluation, effective from the date of this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to her active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis was denied as he did not have a current disability at the time of his claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for thrombocytopenia was denied as there is no evidence that it persisted beyond service and was related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70% disability rating for service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder is denied. The Board found no evidence of worsening symptoms within the one-year look-back period preceding the August 2024 claim, and thus did not find factual ascertainable increase in disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression) and a prostate condition. The evidence did not support the presence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death. The case will not be reconsidered until a request for substitution is made by an eligible person.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, which includes major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and alcohol use disorder, is currently rated at 70 percent. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted due to the lack of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, but her other claims remain pending.

The Veteran's GAD is rated at 100 percent, and he has additional service-connected disabilities that are independently ratable at more than 60 percent. SMC at the housebound rate is granted due to his single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is linked to his military service.

The Veteran's disability rating for other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder with generalized anxiety disorder is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at a 70 percent disability rating from March 10, 2014 to July 6, 2020.

The Board denied the appellant's request for direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a July 2024 rating decision because the decision was not an appeal but rather the initial decision with respect to the issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for headaches/migraines, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back condition, a right knee condition, a left knee condition, and bilateral pes planus due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The other issues have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100% rating effective February 24, 2018.,The Veteran's eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 USC chapter 35 was granted an earlier effective date of February 24, 2018. However, the claim is denied as DEA benefits cannot be awarded prior to the effective date of a permanent and total disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and adjustment disorder was dismissed due to his death.