Anxiety decisions — 2009

The Veteran's GAD and depression are currently rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating. The Board finds that his disability picture does not warrant a higher evaluation due to the presence of significant cognitive impairment from nonservice-connected dementia.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, diagnosed as PTSD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, was incurred in service. The Board grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to assess the severity of his low back disability and psychiatric conditions, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations. The TDIU claim will be deferred pending completion of this additional development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depression, anxiety) and sleep deprivation were denied. The Board found that there is no current evidence of a diagnosed sleep deprivation disability or any persistent symptoms thereof. Additionally, the Board determined that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disability related to his service. As such, the claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to unsuccessful attempts to verify a reported sexual assault stressor and to obtain evidence of an arrest for DWI. The Veteran is also asked to provide information about his anxiety disorder.

The Veteran seeks payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private facility. The VAMC will review the case under both the Millennium Bill Act and 38 U.S.C.A. § 1728, considering all evidence of record, including the November 20, 2007 treatment records from Florida Hospital Flagler.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder is related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for variously diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, is denied as there is no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor and the diagnoses are not related to service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, but generally functioning satisfactorily.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including major depression with mood disorder, PTSD, and an anxiety disorder, were not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as a panic disorder with agoraphobia, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found no continuity of symptomatology and the evidence did not establish a nexus between active duty service and current symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as anxiety disorder not otherwise specified. The claims for hypertension, low back pain, and leg cramps are remanded for additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a psychiatric disorder, including symptoms of depression and anxiety, in service. The weight of the evidence does not support a finding that his current psychiatric condition is related to his active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder not otherwise specified with depression, which is already rated at 100 percent, precludes him from obtaining and retaining all forms of substantially gainful employment due to his symptoms.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and granted service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, finding that the Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case to afford the Veteran a VA examination to determine if he currently suffers from an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as a result of any verified stressor(s), and whether his current conditions are related to his service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining an accurate record of his earnings since 1974. The issues on appeal include entitlement to a higher rating for anxiety neurosis and PTSD, as well as seeking an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining new evidence and conducting a psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified, is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition. The PTSD claim was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.