Anxiety decisions — 2011

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD and anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his military experiences in Vietnam. The Veteran was exposed to traumatic events during service which led to PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as anxiety and PTSD. The evidence presented is sufficient to establish a causal relationship between his military service and his current condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder and PTSD, is granted based on a verified in-service stressor of experiencing mortar and rocket attacks during his time stationed at Ton Son Nhut Air Base in Vietnam. The diagnosis of PTSD was not confirmed due to lack of symptoms meeting full diagnostic criteria, but the Veteran's current constellation of symptoms are suggestive of PTSD.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for adjudicating the merits of the claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder, mood disorder, and panic disorder, are not etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is manifested by occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been granted. The anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective from June 26, 2006. Service connection has been established for residuals of tuberculosis, with a current rating of 10 percent.

The Board has decided to grant service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety. The Veteran's current diagnosis of anxiety is related to his period of active service.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current hearing loss, tinnitus, psychiatric disorder, heart disease, stroke, seizures, cold injuries to service or any specific exposure. The Veteran's assertions were not credible and his claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability and anxiety disorder are not service-connected, and therefore denied both claims. The Veteran's current anxiety disorder is evaluated at a 50% rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including emotional anxiety and depressive disorder, is not related to her active service. The criteria for a grant of TDIU have also not been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, are related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type (previously claimed as panic/anxiety disorder and depression) has been fully granted by the AMC in a July 2011 rating decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to his military service. The case is being remanded for a VA examination and review of records.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and sleep disturbance were not found to be related to service, as his symptoms appeared after he returned from Iraq. The Board denied the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder is manifested by symptoms productive of impairment no greater than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but not the deficiencies in most areas required for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and reassessing the severity of his service-connected psychiatric disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic psychiatric disability related to service or service-connected conditions, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50%, the maximum rating available for this condition due to its severity. Joint pain and gastrointestinal symptoms are each rated at 10%.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for his adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.