Anxiety decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a seizure disorder require additional development due to incomplete records and conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is competent to handle funds disbursed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, based on evidence showing his ability to manage financial affairs with appropriate supervision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to address his claims for service connection for various psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. The case will be readjudicated in accordance with the provisions of Clemons and the revisions in 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f) that came into effect July 13, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current generalized anxiety disorder is not caused by or permanently worsened by his service-connected disabilities, and was not caused by any incident of service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is at least as likely as not related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to prevent her from engaging in and retaining substantially gainful employment, thus granting TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal involves requests for higher ratings following the grant of service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood. The case is being remanded to obtain SSA records and ensure all relevant evidence has been considered.

The Board found that there is no current evidence of a psychiatric disability, and the Veteran's claims were denied as his claim was not substantiated by competent medical evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorders. The claim will be reconsidered after this additional evidence has been obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA psychiatric examination to assess the severity of his service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety and PTSD.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in handling of the Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) records and other procedural issues. The Veteran's claims for service connection, a higher rating for her right shoulder disorder, and TDIU are being reviewed.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as an anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, is found to be related to her service and granted service connection. The initial evaluations for the service-connected left mid-scapular myositis disability and left shoulder bursitis disability remain denied.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and residuals of dental trauma, finding no credible evidence of a diagnosis or occurrence of the claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his depression did not begin during active service and thus could not be considered service-connected.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder/stuttering is currently rated at 50 percent, the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The VA examiner noted that the Veteran had difficulty with concentration and understanding complex commands due to his stuttering.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder was denied, and the issue of service connection for a heart condition as secondary to his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The evidence supports a link between these conditions and military service, specifically exposure to Scud missile attacks during the Gulf War.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, the highest schedular rating available for this condition.