The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for Generalized Anxiety Disorder was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied due to the lack of meeting schedular requirements. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran's symptoms were adequately addressed by the current 10% rating, and his TDIU claim was denied as he did not have at least one service-connected disability rated 40% or more with additional disability bringing the combined rating to 70% or more.
- Claimed conditions
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Lumbar Spine Disability, Hemorrhoids
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- December 29, 2020
- Citation
- 20081414
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and somatic symptom disorder, as well as presumptive service connection for basal cell carcinoma under the PACT Act. Service connection was denied for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, right restless leg syndrome, left restless leg syndrome, an increased rating for psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, a left forehead surgical scar, and allergic rhinitis.
- Granted
The Board granted a staged disability rating of 70 percent for the service-connected generalized anxiety disorder from January 8, 2024, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of increased rating for back disability, service connection for sleep apnea, left heel, and hemorrhoids, as well as entitlement to a TDIU prior to August 1, 2025, for additional development.
- Denied
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the ratings of generalized anxiety disorder, right shoulder strain with AC joint osteoarthritis and AC joint separation, clavicle and/or scapula impairment, and tinnitus.
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