The Veteran's service connection for agoraphobia and unspecified anxiety disorder is granted. The Veteran's left forearm radial tunnel syndrome is rated at 20 percent, while the right forearm condition remains at 20 percent. The Veteran's left leg deep vein thrombophlebitis is rated at 20 percent. The Veteran's chronic myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome continues to be rated at 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports service connection for agoraphobia and unspecified anxiety disorder, with the benefit of doubt being afforded to the Veteran. The left forearm radial tunnel syndrome is currently rated at 20 percent, which aligns with the criteria for moderate incomplete paralysis in the dominant upper extremity. The right forearm condition remains at 20 percent due to lack of severe or complete paralysis. The left leg deep vein thrombophlebitis is rated at 20 percent based on persistent edema that is incompletely relieved by elevation, without stasis pigmentation, eczema, ulceration, or massive board-like edema. The chronic myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome continues to be rated at 10 percent as it affects the jaw only.
- Claimed conditions
- agoraphobia, unspecified anxiety disorder, radial tunnel syndrome of the bilateral forearms, left leg deep vein thrombophlebitis, chronic myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 11, 2019
- Citation
- 19103221
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding their etiology.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's award of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted effective from April 15, 2017, solely based on his unspecified anxiety disorder. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his unspecified anxiety disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to October 4, 2023 and 70 percent from that date.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the appeal for an additional examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder.
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