Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew their appeal, resulting in the dismissal of both issues regarding service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with dissociative symptoms, persistent depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and somatic symptom disorder is not rated higher than 70 percent. Service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy has been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea due to their secondary nature to service-connected conditions. The Veteran's assertions regarding personal assault stressors are also under review.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are due to his experiences in service. Service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder is granted an increased disability rating of 100 percent, effective December 3, 2020. The appeal for a TDIU rating is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and dysthymic disorder, are granted as at least as likely as not related to in-service military sexual trauma (MSTs). The claim for a sleep disorder is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder has been granted an increased rating of 50 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for generalized anxiety disorder, tinnitus, left and right neuralgia sciatica, deviated septum, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The cases of left side and right side neuralgia sciatica, deviated septum, and GERD are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he has completed high school and one year of college, worked for over twenty years in the same position without any problems, and is retired. Therefore, TDIU is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood and depressive disorder with major depressive-like episode and anxious distress, secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The decision is based on a finding that the current disability was proximately due to or the result of his service-connected tinnitus.

PTSD and TMD service connection granted, with initial ratings. Shin splints denied. Dry eye syndrome granted.,All other claims remanded for further review.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is found to be proximately due to, or aggravated by, her service-connected bilateral lower extremity RSD/CRPS with stress fractures of the tibia (to include MTSS).,The Veteran's headaches are also found to be proximately due to, or aggravated by, her service-connected bilateral lower extremity RSD/CRPS with stress fractures of the tibia (to include MTSS).

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent since February 16, 2024. Prior to that date, a higher rating of 70 percent was granted for the entire appeal period. Effective dates prior to February 25, 2019, are granted for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA).

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for ADHD, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and depression due to his discharge under 'other than honorable' conditions.

The Veteran's appeal of the claims for service connection for anxiety and night sweats is dismissed. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, is aggravated by his service-connected disabilities of lumbar spine strain, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, tinnitus, and vertigo. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to these conditions is granted.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms did not more nearly approximate total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, is secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral radiculopathy, and bilateral knee disabilities. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks. The VA must obtain a new opinion addressing the etiology of these conditions.