Anxiety decisions — 2011

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding no medical evidence to support a relationship between any diagnosed psychiatric disability and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder does not warrant a rating higher than 50 percent, as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder prior to October 2, 2008 did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent. Beginning October 2, 2008, his symptoms were not severe enough to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining mental health treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) and a bilateral ear disorder were denied, while his claim for increased rating for left wrist gunshot wound residuals was granted with a 10% evaluation effective July 7, 2005. The decision is mixed due to the denial of one issue and grant of another.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain Social Security Administration records, VA psychiatric treatment records since December 2008, and a comprehensive examination to determine the extent of his service-connected disabilities. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been rated at a 50 percent disability rating since September 12, 2006, based on occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's PTSD with dysthymic disorder and social anxiety disorder was not productive of total occupational and social impairment from November 10, 2006 to December 14, 2008. The Board denied a rating greater than 70 percent for this period.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disability is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD based on personal assault and other conditions, was denied as there is no credible evidence of a continuity of symptomatology or in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including anxiety, depression and psychosis is being remanded due to the need to obtain SSA disability determination and medical records associated with it.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for all issues, including service connection claims and a rating claim for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new psychiatric examination. The claims of increased rating for anxiety disorder and total disability based on individual unemployability are also being considered.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and acquired psychiatric disorder are at least as likely as not attributable to his military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and major depressive disorders, is found to be incurred in service. The Board also finds that the Veteran has an eye disorder but was unable to obtain sufficient evidence regarding its etiology due to lack of VA examination records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of alcoholism as secondary to his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for his generalized anxiety disorder.

The May 1977 rating decision denied service connection for a nervous condition, but the Board found that the evidence then of record supported this denial.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current PTSD is related to his combat service and fear of hostile military activity, granting service connection for PTSD.