Anxiety decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection for various psychiatric and physical conditions are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, diagnosed as an anxiety disorder and PTSD, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The symptoms do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete service records and need to verify periods of active duty.

The Board has restored the 10 percent rating for service-connected residuals of a left thumb fracture and granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's anxiety disorder is not shown to meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, including memory loss symptoms, is found to be related to her service in the Persian Gulf and thus granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to address the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorders and their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development and notification as per new regulations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional evidence collection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of in-service stressors and VA examinations to determine the presence and etiology of his claimed psychiatric disorders, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration and VA treatment records.

The case is being remanded to obtain missing VA outpatient treatment records and to provide an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an anxiety disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and headache disorder. The decision also found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression and anxiety is being remanded as there may be an underlying service-connected condition that could affect his mental health. The right foot disability claim is also being remanded, with a request for in-patient clinical records from Fort Carson.,The Veteran's left foot disability claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development including in-patient clinical records and psychiatric examination.,The Veteran's right foot disability claim is being remanded as it may be related to his pre-existing left foot disability.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder were found to be at least as likely as not caused by his military service, specifically his role as a military policeman in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of January 30, 1995 for his service connection for major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder. The claim was based on direct service connection and there is no evidence prior to this date that can be construed as a formal or informal claim.

The Veteran's claims for a higher evaluation for tinnitus and service connection for PTSD were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for separate schedular ratings for bilateral tinnitus, as such disability is already at its maximum rating of 10 percent. For his psychiatric disorder claim, the Board noted that VA had not obtained all relevant mental health treatment records and that a VA examination was needed to determine if PTSD or other psychiatric disorders were linked to service.

The Board found no evidence of a current acquired psychiatric disorder related to the Veteran's active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the appellant and additional medical records are needed. A VA opinion is requested regarding whether alcohol abuse caused or contributed substantially to the Veteran's death, and if so, whether it was related to a psychiatric disability and/or PTSD due to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records from the Veteran's second period of active duty and VA mental health records. The Veteran will also be scheduled for a VA mental health examination to determine the etiology of his current psychiatric disorder.