Anxiety decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected psychophysiologic gastrointestinal (GI) reaction with mild anxiety and PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a retrospective medical opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, specifically anxiety disorder not otherwise specified and depressive disorder NOS, is related to his in-service stressor. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and for additional development of his VA treatment records. The Veteran is also required to provide more details about the specific events that led to his current psychiatric diagnoses, including PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder, is being remanded to the RO for further development. The appeal will be considered again after any new evidence is reviewed.

The Board found that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis, claimed as allergies, was not incurred in or aggravated by service.,Based on the evidence of record, the Board concluded that anxiety disorder is related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is found to be related to his in-service stressor, leading to service connection for this disability.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder and mood disorder. The decision is based on reopening of the claim due to submission of new evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to lack of recent VA examination reports and missing medical records.

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

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for the acquired psychiatric disorder remains at 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Brooklyn prior to June 2006 and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,The previously denied claim for service connection for asbestosis (claimed as pneumoconiosis) has been reopened, but the evidence does not support a finding in favor of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for a DSM-IV diagnosis of PTSD and whether it can be confirmed that any claimed in-service stressor is adequate to support a diagnosis of PTSD. The examiner must also provide an opinion as to whether the Veteran's identified stressors are related to a fear of hostile military or terrorist activity, and whether the disorder had its onset during his period of military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA psychiatric examination, and readjudicating the claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include recurrent dislocation of the right shoulder and anxiety, render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that she meets the requirements for consideration of an extra-schedular TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD and a generalized anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are linked to his military service. The issues of service connection for residuals of mercury poisoning, hepatitis C, and bipolar disorder as well as the claim for TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities have not been found to warrant evaluations in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for further diagnostic testing and an opinion regarding the etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for scar residuals of an appendectomy and that the Veteran failed to appear for his scheduled VA examination.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional information and evidence, including a VA examination, in order to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his military service. The issue will be reconsidered after all available evidence has been considered.