Anxiety decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder alone is found to be so severe that it prevents him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current anxiety and depressive disorders are related to his military service, resolving any doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD has been denied due to the lack of verified in-service stressors. The Board has ordered additional development, including verification of alleged stressors and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II and its associated secondary conditions, due to a lack of evidence showing such conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an examination, as well as consideration of entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood was denied for ratings in excess of the assigned disability ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain VA treatment records from various facilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from various facilities and readjudicating the claim based on all evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting medical evidence and incomplete records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety, is being remanded due to the need for further development of his claims file. This includes obtaining specific information regarding his reported in-service stressor events, corroborating these events, scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current psychiatric disorder, and readjudicating his claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, due to inadequate examination and missing VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including bipolar affective disorder and anxiety disorder, are related to his military service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's schizoaffective disorder, anxiety, and depression did not manifest during service or are not related to his service-connected chronic lumbar strain. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current chronic psychiatric disability manifested by anxiety and stress, nor can service connection be established for this condition. The initial evaluation of 10 percent for irritable bowel syndrome with aerophagia is denied as it does not reflect the severity of the Veteran's symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and the need for further examination of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed mood disorder was not caused by his service-connected mandibular fracture or otherwise related to his period of active military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been withdrawn. The Board is addressing the issues of entitlement to service connection for a cognitive disability with memory loss and neurological problems (to include as secondary to service-connected generalized anxiety disorder) and entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in the February 1983 rating decision, which resulted in a 30 percent evaluation for anxiety reaction with depression. As a result of this CUE finding, the Veteran had a total disability rating based on unemployability (TDIU) effective from the date of his death. The DIC claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is granted as the Veteran was continuously rated at or above 60 percent for a period of 10 years immediately preceding his death.