Anxiety decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disabilities were productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas (including work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood) from October 17, 2005 to October 26, 2010. From October 27, 2010, the disabilities have continued to produce such impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran now has or had an anxiety disorder related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim due to insufficient reasoning in the VA examiner's opinion and additional evidence received since the last consideration of his claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to procedural defects and need for additional evidence. The case will be readjudicated after all requested development is completed.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood has been rated at 50 percent since August 1, 2002. The symptoms have included flat affect, circumstantial speech, occasional panic attacks, and difficulties in social and occupational functioning.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors and obtain medical opinions regarding his psychiatric, skin, and hepatitis C conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including consideration of new regulations pertaining to PTSD and a psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is at least as likely as not caused by his military service, including an accident during service that injured his shoulder and resulted in a subsequent psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran currently suffers from any acquired psychiatric disorders and whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, resulting in dismissal of the case.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are consistent with a 30 percent evaluation.

The Board has decided that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for anxiety disorder with depressive features, but denied all other claims. The rating for PTSD remains at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination for his psychiatric disorders and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including securing outstanding VA treatment records and an additional VA examination. The issue of increased disability rating for anxiety reaction secondary to intracranial infection and viral encephalitis remains before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA psychiatric examination to assess the impact of his service-connected depression and anxiety disorder on his ability to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, and Schizoaffective Disorder due to a personal assault during military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings are being remanded due to the need for further development, including VA examinations.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the appellant's current psychiatric and tinnitus conditions and her military service, including continuity of symptomatology since service. Therefore, service connection was denied.