Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, tension headaches, and an unspecified anxiety disorder has been granted. Hypertension is associated with herbicide exposure under the PACT Act. Tension headaches are related to service-connected tinnitus. An unspecified anxiety disorder is presumed to have originated during active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's death and unexplained absence, but the appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability remains. The issues include establishing PTSD based on corroborated stressors and determining if any current psychiatric conditions are related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent from February 18, 2011 to July 13, 2016 and at 50 percent from July 14, 2016 to May 19, 2021. The rating is based on the severity of symptoms consistent with a 70 percent disability rating under the General Formula for Mental Disorders.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of generalized anxiety disorder and unspecified schizophrenia and other psychotic disorder (psychiatric disorder) based on clear and unmistakable error in a January 1952 rating decision, finding that the evidence at the time did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was initially rated at 30 percent prior to June 18, 2020. From that date, he is now rated at 70 percent.

The Veteran's MDD with anxiety is currently rated at 50 percent, effective June 2, 2016. The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's employment and income between September 2011 and February 2015 were above the poverty thresholds, indicating she maintained substantially gainful employment. Therefore, her claim for a TDIU prior to February 1, 2015 is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete verification of his claimed periods of active duty and additional verified service records are needed. The AOJ must readjudicate the claims with consideration of all available evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and rhinosinusitis, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), asthma, bronchitis, and a lung condition are all granted.,Service connection is also granted for right arm and shoulder disabilities and left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in the February 2021 decision regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, insomnia, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety. The matter is now with the VA clinician to provide a medical opinion addressing causality.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow any form of substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective September 10, 2020.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, personality disorder with avoidant features, and adjustment disorder. The decision finds that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service due to the Veteran's lay testimony of in-service stressors.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is granted. The right knee chondromalacia is rated at 10 percent prior to May 12, 2017, and at 20 percent from that date onwards. The atopic dermatitis requires a 10 percent rating. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee disability and acquired psychiatric disorder to include anxiety are not service-connected. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and adjudication due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a VA examination. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, right ankle injury, right shoulder injury, and low back injury due to potential outstanding service treatment records. The psychiatric disability claim is also remanded for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet due to potential in-service onset or aggravation. The Veteran's reports of preexisting disability are presumed sound.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumptively related to his service due to exposure to herbicide agents. The claims for acquired psychiatric disability, stroke and multiple TIAs, and vascular dementia are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his anxiety disorder and TBI, as well as clarification of his employment status. The Board finds pre-decisional duty to assist errors in the current rating decision.

The Veteran's previously denied claim for SMC for housebound status or the need for regular aid and attendance is being remanded due to new and relevant evidence submitted after the July 2019 rating decision.