Anxiety decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disability. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is being considered based on her in-service stressor of sexual harassment or assault.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim for secondary service connection based on his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was also denied.

The Board found that there is competent medical evidence relating the Veteran's anxiety disorder to his military service, granting service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The development includes obtaining corroborated stressor information and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for anxiety neurosis was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. His service-connected arteriosclerotic heart disease was also denied as it is not related to his service-connected anxiety neurosis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to his service-connected bronchial asthma. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is found to be causally related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issue of a compensable evaluation for his service-connected EBV and mononucleosis remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his depressive disorder with anxiety symptoms is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling another VA compensation examination.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder are currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting moderate impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and anxiety disorder were denied, while his claim for increased evaluation of sarcoidosis was granted. The Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of anxiety disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for depression is dismissed as moot because he has already been granted service connection for anxiety disorder, which encompasses the symptoms of his claimed depression.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been granted. His claims for increased disability rating for mechanical low back pain and TDIU have also been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current depression, anxiety disorders, and PTSD are related to his active service, including combat experiences in Vietnam. The claim is granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant meets the criteria for service connection of PTSD, as diagnosed by VA mental health professionals based on his reported experiences in Vietnam. The benefit-of-the-doubt is resolved in favor of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for further development of his claims, specifically regarding verification of claimed stressors and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and anxiety, is not related to his service. There was no injury or disease during service, nor did he experience chronic symptoms of an acquired psychiatric disorder in service. The current diagnosis of schizophrenia with anxiety was not first found until many years after discharge from service.

The Board has expanded the Veteran's claim to encompass all psychiatric disorders and is remanding for a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of any currently present acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The revised 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f) (3) will be considered in determining service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and granted it. The evidence presented raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's death was not caused or contributed significantly to by a disability incurred in, aggravated by, or caused by service or a service-connected disability.