Anxiety Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an anxiety disorder and remanded his claims for service connection for Barrett’s esophagus and for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depressive Disorder was denied. The appeal period is from September 30, 2013 to June [REDACTED], 2016.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent since November 23, 2007.,Beginning June 1, 2008, the Veteran is granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's ADHD, adjustment disorder, and anxiety are rated at 50 percent effective October 3, 2016. The right fifth finger disability is not compensable. Bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for a right elbow disability and an acne disability, but granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders including PTSD, anxiety disorder, mood disorder, and bipolar disorder.,Service connection was not established for the right elbow disability due to lack of in-service injury or diagnosis. The acne disability claim was denied as there is no evidence of pre-existing condition prior to service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder has been granted an initial rating of 70 percent, effective January 23, 2019. The other claims have been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous directives, and will consider whether new evidence was submitted to reopen a claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than August 16, 2006 for the grant of a 100 percent disability rating for generalized anxiety disorder is dismissed as there was no valid assertion of clear and unmistakable error in the December 2008 rating decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no medical evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric conditions, including depressive disorder NOS and anxiety disorder NOS, are granted as service-connected. Dermatitis is also granted as service-connected. Obstructive sleep apnea secondary to a service-connected nose disability is denied. Ratings for residuals of a fractured nose and scars on the right arm are denied.

The Board has restored the 70 percent rating for anxiety disorder and granted a 100 percent rating since June 5, 2018. The effective date of the 30 percent rating for headaches is denied. Other issues are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety disorder, NOS, is granted a higher rating of 50 percent effective March 15, 2012. A TDIU is also granted.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent disabling from August 26, 2010 to January 25, 2017.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for chronic diarrhea and the issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for anxiety disorder prior to May 3, 2019 and in excess of 30 percent thereafter. The Veteran requested withdrawal of these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, rhinitis with nasal polyps and eustachian tube dysfunction, and variously diagnosed psychiatric disorders (including dysthymia and adjustment disorder). Service connection was denied for deviated nasal septum.

The Board found clear and unmistakable error in the February 2018 rating decision that continued a separate 10 percent rating for residuals of TBI, as there was too much overlap between the TBI symptoms and those of the diagnosed psychiatric disability. The Veteran's condition is now rated as major depressive disorder with anxiety features.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete VA treatment records and an inadequate examination regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent disabling, effective July 19, 2012. The Board denied a higher rating as the symptoms do not warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent.