Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, was found to be causally related to the trauma she experienced during active service. As a result, her claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he is not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression and anxiety, and hepatitis C due to outstanding private treatment records not yet obtained.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's anxiety disorder and another to evaluate his employability. The increased rating claim for anxiety disorder is also being remanded.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent as his symptoms do not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment required for a higher disability rating. For TDIU, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities (persistent depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder and duodenal ulcer) meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to their combined effect on his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development, including a need for a new VA examination to identify and discuss the presence or absence of PTSD, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes PTSD and anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's stressors occurred during his service in Vietnam. The preponderance of evidence supports this decision.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70% disability rating since January 9, 2019. A TDIU was also granted from that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder with anxiety, has been granted. The appeal as to the remaining issues (right shoulder disorder, OSA, bilateral flat foot, left shoulder osteoarthritis, left ankle strain, right ankle strain, left hip osteoarthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis) is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The rating for anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified, is granted from March 20, 2013, with a 50% disability rating. The rating for tinnitus remains at 10%. TDIU is remanded.

The Board has restored the 50 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder and granted restoration of the 30 percent rating for his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The ratings were reduced in March 2015, but the Board found that there was not sustained improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened and granted secondary service connection for migraine headaches. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety, OCD, and memory loss, as well as chronic fatigue syndrome/insomnia disorder, were both remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder prior to July 2012 was granted, with the current rating of 50% being maintained.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, asthma, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and a skin disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for insomnia with generalized anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the failure of the Veteran to report for a scheduled VA examination. The RO must schedule another examination and notify the Veteran of the consequences of not reporting.

The Veteran's request to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for an anxiety disorder was granted. His claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction (reopened) is remanded.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is granted as service connected. The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder (GERD) is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected anxiety disorder is denied, but he is granted a 30 percent rating for other specified anxiety disorder and trauma-and stressor-related disorder. The right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, and left knee condition are remanded.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for neurobehavioral effects, including depression and anxiety, is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence. The case requires a new VA examination to determine if the conditions are related to Camp Lejeune water exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder and a reported incident during service.