Anxiety decisions — 2010

The Veteran's depression is not service-connected as it is not related to his service-connected condyloma acuminata, penile and anal areas. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for depression, anxiety, stress and sleep problems based on new evidence submitted since the last denial. The Veteran's personal statements, service treatment records (STRs), and recent VA treatment records now provide competent medical evidence of a current acquired psychiatric disorder of depression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including anxiety and depression, were not incurred during active service. The claim for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that the new evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression, and mood instability, are related to his military service. The claim for PTSD was denied due to lack of a diagnosis in accordance with DSM-IV criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and opinion to determine whether the Veteran's psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran is diagnosed with anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, which are related to his service in Vietnam. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's anxiety disorder and dysthymic disorder are due to disease or injury incurred in service, specifically aggravated by a personality disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's anxiety disorder pre-existed service and was aggravated by service, thus granting service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate notice and need for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including schizotypal personality disorder and anxiety/depression. However, it was determined that new evidence did not establish service connection due to lack of in-service diagnosis or credible supporting evidence of stressors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the failure to appear for VA examinations and incomplete medical records. The Board will attempt to obtain any relevant treatment records and provide the Veteran with a new opportunity to substantiate his claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination. The TDIU rating claim is also inextricably intertwined with this issue.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, including work and family relations, from March 27, 2006 to September 27, 2008. A 70 percent rating is granted for this period.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in reducing the Veteran's anxiety disorder disability rating from 10% to noncompensable, based on a full and complete examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and Butler Hospital records, and a supplemental opinion from the December 2009 examiner.

The Board found no credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressors and thus, service connection for PTSD was denied. The acquired psychiatric disorders were not shown to be related to service.

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

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address theories of entitlement including direct service connection, secondary service connection, and aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

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