Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for GAD and for a TDIU due to service-connected disability. The remand requires obtaining updated medical records, scheduling a VA examination, and providing additional medical opinions.

The Board has dismissed all service connection and increased rating claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as being proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood and anxiety is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current level of disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder, as well as hypertension. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and a need to obtain relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for anxiety disorder, lumbar spinal stenosis, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s anxiety disorder did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it did not cause deficiencies in most areas such as work or family relations. His lumbar spine disability was rated at 60 percent based on the old criteria, but should have been evaluated under the new General Spinal Formula which does not provide for a 60 percent rating. The Veteran's radiculopathy ratings were also denied.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is granted. The claims for bilateral hip and knee disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, and alcohol use disorder prior to September 3, 2014 are rated at a 70 percent disability level.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for depression, anxiety, and headaches due to the Veteran's failure to attend scheduled VA examinations. The Veteran is advised that she needs to provide an estimated time or year when she can attend a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, but the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as anxiety disorder. The Board found that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of unspecified anxiety disorder and established a link between this condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to further development and consideration being required. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the minimum schedular rating requirements for a TDIU, but there is evidence suggesting he may be unemployable.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date and has remanded the issue of entitlement to a higher rating for service-connected anxiety disorder, panic disorder, depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 25, 2017, for a 100 percent rating for unspecified schizophrenia disorder with depressed mood and anxiety is denied as there was no CUE in previous decisions. The evidence does not show that the disability warranted such a high rating within one year prior to the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to several issues, including providing proper notice for a personal assault claim related to PTSD, obtaining missing federal and private treatment records, and conducting a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for MDD and anxiety disorder, as well as a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD. The Veteran's employment was also considered in the TDIU claim, leading to its denial.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's service connection claim and because of an error in not considering her SMC based on aid and attendance claim.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus due to lack of a current diagnosis. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded as the VA opinion obtained prior to the July 2019 rating decision did not adequately address the Veteran's diagnoses of unspecified depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, which are related to his service in Korea.