Anxiety decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder is manifested by severe symptoms, including depression, nervous mannerisms, panic attacks, and impaired concentration. The VA has granted a 50 percent evaluation for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including social phobia, anxiety disorder, and depression, did not have onset in service. The Board also noted that there was no reliable evidence to show these conditions were first manifest many years after discharge from active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disabilities, finding that the Veteran engaged in combat during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including contacting the Social Security Administration (SSA) to determine FICA earnings and providing a summary of FICA earnings for specific years.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder is being remanded due to conflicting diagnoses and the need for a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for clarification of the VA examiner's findings and further examination or testing.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was found to be related to his military service, leading to its grant of service connection.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, that cannot be dissociated from his active service. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically anxiety disorder with dysthymia, is at least in equipoise with service connection being granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities for accrued benefits purposes.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including borderline psychosis, hyperventilation syndrome, anxiety, and major depression was denied as March 29, 2000 is the earliest document in the claims file that can be construed as a claim.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for anxiety disorder was denied by the Board. The decision stated that the earliest possible effective date would be October 17, 2003, which is when the Veteran filed his new claim to reopen.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder causes occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The VA has assigned a 30 percent rating for this condition, effective October 12, 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his psychiatric disorders are not related to service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for generalized anxiety disorder with major depression was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has re-characterized the issue as service connection for PTSD, and the Veteran needs to provide evidence of a personal assault in service that caused his PTSD. The VA must also obtain additional records from SSA and VA treatment providers.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and skin disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and PTSD, are related to her in-service personal assaults. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disability related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by total and permanent impairment, warranting a 100% rating effective from the date of his claim on November 15, 2004.