Anxiety decisions — 2011

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD, are related to his active service. The Board finds that these conditions were likely caused by substance abuse during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety and depression is being remanded due to the need for clarification of treatment dates and possible additional evidence.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for left ear hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. However, there is no current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date than August 15, 2009 for service connection for PTSD and GAD, finding that the first diagnosis of PTSD was dated on August 15, 2009. The opinion relating the GAD to PTSD is not considered sufficient to establish service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and reserve service records. The claims will be re-adjudicated based on the additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for inclusion of PTSD as a component of his service-connected psychiatric disorder was denied. The Board found that the Veteran is already compensated for all of his psychiatric symptomatology by means of his service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, and no separate and distinct symptoms from those already contemplated by that rating assignment have been demonstrated in the record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected anxiety disorder. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the rating claim.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a final decision can be made on the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder, mood disorder, depression, and anxiety disorder. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical records, provide a VA examination, and readjudicate the claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including anxiety disorder and depression, were not caused or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder impingement and microcytic anemia, as well as service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting any of these claims.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic psychiatric disability during service or during the applicable presumptive period, and concluded that there is not sufficient medical evidence to establish a connection between the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities (depression and anxiety) and his active service. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and examination to address the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD based on in-service personal assault. The VA will obtain relevant medical records from SSA and schedule examinations to determine if any current psychiatric or neurological conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and major depression have been rated at 50 percent since October 2008, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, adjustment disorder, anxiety disorder, and a personality disorder. The case has been remanded to determine if the current psychiatric disabilities are due to aggravation of her personality disorder by superimposed disease or injury during service.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive and anxiety disorders are found to render him unemployable, with all reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran currently has PTSD caused by his military service, and this claim is granted.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety is found to have had its onset in service and has persisted since separation, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and anxiety and depression were not found to be related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides.