Anxiety decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder was granted, with a current evaluation of 30 percent. The effective date is October 7, 2004.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and arranging for a psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine whether the Veteran's service connection claim should be granted for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The development includes verifying the Veteran's claimed stressors and exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which was previously denied in February 2003 due to a lack of evidence linking his current mental health conditions to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorders, is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, rectal incontinence associated with scleroderma, calcinosis of the fingers associated with scleroderma with Raynaud's phenomenon, limitation of motion of left ankle due to scleroderma with Raynaud's phenomenon, left carpal tunnel syndrome (nondominant extremity) due to scleroderma with Raynaud's phenomenon, right knee synovitis, status post arthroscopy, flatfoot with left foot pain due to scleroderma with Raynaud's phenomenon, flatfoot with right foot pain due to scleroderma with Raynaud's phenomenon, hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and right carpal tunnel syndrome (dominant extremity) due to scleroderma with Raynaud's phenomenon, are of such severity as to preclude her from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current psychiatric disabilities, diagnosed as Depression NOS and Anxiety NOS, were incurred during his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA). As such, service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and potential relevant information from Federal agencies.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder, NOS is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for PTSD was not supported by evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination and the acquisition of relevant medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records, as well as further development of his claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to a change in the presiding Veterans Law Judge and will schedule a video-conference hearing for the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for anxiety disorder and scar of the left thumb with arthritis, as well as a TDIU rating, were denied. The service-connected conditions are rated based on their inherent nature rather than any specific exposure basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of anxiety or hypertension, and there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service. As such, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder with schizophrenia is dismissed as moot because his psychiatric disability, classified as anxiety disorder, already accounts for the manifestations of his claimed bipolar disorder with schizophrenia.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to his service in Vietnam. Additionally, a VA examination is required to assess whether the Veteran requires aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that there is no credible evidence to support the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor and thus denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's cause of death (urosepsis) was not service-connected, and no other disability contributed substantially or materially to his death.