Anxiety decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected anxiety disorder with dysthymia. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders. The case is being remanded to consider new evidence submitted by the veteran, including a March 2010 opinion letter from a VA licensed clinical social worker.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected conditions on his employment and another examination to address the relationship between his diagnoses of bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder with depression. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected major depressive disorder, to include anxiety disorder, was denied by the Board. The disability is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar and anxiety disorders do not render her unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the evidence received since the November 1972 rating decision does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for service connection for an anxiety disorder other than PTSD.

The Veteran seeks service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The Board finds that a VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorders she may have, including whether they are related to her military service or personal assault.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for anxiety disorder has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran while the appeal was pending.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a personality disorder. However, the claim for PTSD is denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood has been granted a 70 percent rating, effective from September 1, 2005.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating greater than 70 percent for his anxiety disorder with panic attacks is denied. The effective date remains November 12, 1998.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection, finding that his ankle disability did not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for alcohol dependence as it was a result of the Veteran's own willful misconduct. The claim for service connection for all other psychiatric disabilities (including paranoid schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, depressive disorder not otherwise specified, adjustment disorder, borderline personality disorder, and anxiety) was also denied on the merits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Travel Board hearing due to his inability to attend the Central Office hearing.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA examinations to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability, depression, anxiety, and hypersomnia are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for several reasons, including obtaining SSA records and issuing a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) on the increased rating claim. The Veteran's claims regarding residuals of electrocution, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include depression and anxiety, and service connection for PTSD are also being addressed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic psychiatric disorder, including dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further medical clarification regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with generalized anxiety reaction and lumbosacral strain with arthritis leave him in need of assistance or result in his being housebound.

The Veteran seeks a higher evaluation for his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder. The Board finds that an additional VA examination is necessary to determine the current severity of his condition and its impact on his social and occupational functioning.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional examinations and to determine if service connection can be established for abdominal pain, a psychiatric disorder, genitofemoral neuralgia, corneal scar status post left eye injury, and mid back strain.