Anxiety decisions — 2009

The Board denied service connection for the appellant's claimed psychiatric disorders, finding that his pre-existing anxiety disorder did not increase in severity during active duty and that he did not develop a psychosis. The Board also found that there was no evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under VA guidelines. The Board found that his current level of disability does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations, particularly regarding his right knee disorder and anxiety disorder. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the current level of disability caused by his service-connected PTSD, including its impact on employment. The case will be returned to the Board once this information has been gathered.

The Veteran's anxiety reaction and major depression have been rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating. He is also granted a TDIU.

The Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed innocently acquired psychiatric disorder that was incurred or aggravated by service. His personality disorder, which he had prior to service, is not considered a disease or injury for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities and considering new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to service. The lumbar spine disorder also was not found to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the appellant and a need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder contributed to his death.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining post-service treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to consider the Veteran's new claims for service connection for various psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizoaffective disorder, depression, and PTSD. The AMC/RO must obtain all relevant medical records, schedule a VA psychiatric examination, and adjudicate the claim on the merits.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, not including PTSD, finding that the Veteran's anxiety disorder is as likely as not caused by experiences he had during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional service treatment records, conduct further examinations, and consider alternative theories of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim encompasses all of his current acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional information that may corroborate the Veteran's claimed stressors and to schedule a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of all current psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions and their relationship to service, including verifying in-service stressors for PTSD.

The Veteran's current diagnosed psychiatric disorders were not present during military service or are causally related to any disease, injury, or incident in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's experiences in service likely precipitated his schizophrenia, which is now diagnosed. Therefore, the claim for service connection for schizophrenia is granted.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for a skin condition, and service connection for a nervous condition (PTSD, Anxiety, Panic Attacks) were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support the grant of any of these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed major depressive disorder with panic disorder and anxiety did not have its onset in service or is related to exposure to DDT in service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that a new VCAA notice is required to be provided to the appellant, as it relates to the conditions for which the Veteran was service connected at the time of his death and the evidence needed to substantiate the DIC claim based on those conditions.