Anxiety decisions — 2011

The Board has requested additional evidence to be obtained in order to determine the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The original claims file is being sought as it may contain STRs that were previously associated with the case.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during service and have persisted since. Obesity was not found to be related to service. Other conditions were also found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder contributed to his death from acute hypoxemia, which was caused by a cerebral vascular accident and myocardial infarction.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder and insomnia have resulted in reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety, is granted as his in-service stressor of witnessing two of his fellow soldiers being brought back to the base, dead, with their bodies mutilated, is related to 'fear of hostile military or terrorist activity' and supports a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional records from SSA and VA, including treatment records since December 2007.

The Board has granted service connection for low back strain, left hip disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, depression, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood). The Veteran's right foot and left foot disabilities are also found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to his in-service stressors and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the Veteran's inability to attend a VA examination.

The Veteran's variously diagnosed psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder and mixed bipolar disorder, is found to be related to his military service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has found that the Veteran's binge eating disorder was related to his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder. The case is now remanded for further development and consideration, including obtaining terminal hospitalization records and a new medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining the Veteran's personnel records from his period of active service in Vietnam and arranging for a mental status examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric conditions, including GAD and depression, were denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD. The other issues related to secondary service connection have not been addressed due to the denial of the primary claim.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from November 19, 2007 to November 20, 2007 at St. Elizabeth Hospital were denied as the treatment was not related to his service-connected conditions and he had stabilized by that time.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing VA psychiatric treatment records and clarification of the Veteran's Axis I diagnosis.

The Board finds that the medical evidence of record supports the Veteran's contention that he has an acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as generalized anxiety disorder, which is causally related to his treatment for anxiety complaints during service. Service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability did not have onset in service and was not caused or aggravated by his active military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression as secondary to his service-connected Raynaud's disease, effective from March 11, 1997 (the date of initial grant of service connection). The rating assigned was 60 percent.

The Veteran's anxiety with depressed mood has been rated at 70 percent since October 19, 2005 and remains the primary issue of appeal. The rating is based on the severity of his symptoms, including social avoidance, isolation, anxiety, depression, crying spells, suicidal thoughts, decreased hygiene, decreased motivation, and inability to establish effective relationships.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of increased rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.