Anxiety decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to his failure to attend a scheduled Travel Board hearing. His claims for service connection and evaluations are pending.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO/AMC for de novo adjudication of the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, for the purpose of accrued benefits. The appellant and her representative will be provided a supplemental statement of the case if their appeal is not granted.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety disorder, anemia, prostate cancer (claimed as prostate problem), a condition manifested by dizziness, and a condition manifested by easy fatigability. The Veteran did not have any current psychiatric disability that could be linked to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and SSA disability determination information. The Veteran will be provided a psychiatric examination to determine if his current psychiatric conditions are related to service or pre-existing conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability of anxiety disorder is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, which includes PTSD and anxiety, not otherwise specified, based on a verified in-service stressor. The Veteran's symptoms have been shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration.

The Board found that the Veteran's schizoaffective disorder was not noted at entry to service, and thus the presumption of soundness attaches. The evidence clearly and unmistakably established that the Veteran suffered from schizoaffective disorder as an adolescent prior to service. However, the Board concluded that there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut this presumption, and therefore, the Veteran's claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a psychological examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, was incurred during active service or as a result of events in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim should be recharacterized as seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. A new examination is needed to determine if any of these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, previously diagnosed as posttraumatic stress disorder, have been rated at 70 percent since March 20, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, is related to service and grants the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to events during his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's cause of death was renal failure, but the Board has determined that service connection for his anxiety disorder may have contributed to his death. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities is due to or aggravated by active service as well as his service-connected diabetes mellitus Type II. The Veteran has also been diagnosed with PTSD, and a VA examination is necessary to determine if this condition is related to military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the case is being remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's fatal cerebrovascular accident was caused by his service-connected PTSD or post-concussion syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome were granted. The Veteran was assigned a 60 percent disability rating for his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has ordered additional development to verify specific in-service stressors and determine the etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, is found to be related to his service, specifically the in-service personal assaults he experienced.