Anxiety decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his active service, including whether any pre-existing conditions were aggravated by service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have an acquired anxiety disorder, to include PTSD, and thus denied service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder. The Veteran's claims are being referred back for further development and examination.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU for the period since May 19, 2010 due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to that date is moot as he has been in receipt of a temporary total rating for prostate cancer.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, dysthymia, and paranoid personality disorder. The Board has determined that the current VA examination is inadequate to address the etiology of these conditions and remands the case for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD and anxiety disorder did not warrant a higher disability rating, as his symptoms were consistent with a 30 percent evaluation.

The Veteran filed a timely notice of disagreement regarding the denial of his claim for service connection for mixed anxiety and depressed mood disorder. The Board has determined that this NOD was timely filed, and thus the appeal is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and for further development of her claims, including a VA examination to determine the impact of her service-connected disabilities on her employability.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS is currently rated at 70 percent disabling since February 13, 2006. The Board denied entitlement to higher initial ratings and TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was due to accidental drowning, and there is no evidence showing a service-connected disability caused or contributed substantially to his death. The appellant's claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD has been granted, as his symptoms are related to a fear of hostile military activity during his service in Korea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as due to personal assault (now granted as a major depressive disorder and anxiety), has been dismissed without prejudice because the issue is no longer before the Board.

The Veteran seeks service connection for depression and anxiety disorder, which he contends began during his military service. The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma do not meet the criteria for a TDIU, as his combined disability rating is less than 70% and he does not have one disability rated at least 40% disabling. The Board finds that the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for an anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran did not engage in combat and that symptoms were not chronic in service. The claim was reopened on new evidence but still denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD with depression and anxiety is related to his military service, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board found that the appellant does not have a current psychiatric disorder that is service-connected, and denied his claim for left ear hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service disease or injury related to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracic spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety disorder) due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection was not granted for residuals of a right foot injury, left-sided ribcage disability, or arthritis.

The Veteran's claim of TDIU is being remanded for further development, including a determination on service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and another VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and a VA examination.