Anxiety decisions — 2011

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for idiopathic dilated congestive heart cardiomyopathy, a respiratory disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder and major depression), finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated during his period of active duty training in July 2001.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is being remanded due to the unavailability of his service personnel records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and bilateral pes planus due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the issues related to service connection for any acquired psychiatric disability, including post-traumatic stress disorder. The psychologist is asked to address whether the aggravation of a personality disorder during active military service was caused by superimposed injury or disease, and to comment on the significance of a November 1971 complaint of nervous trouble.

The Board finds that the Veteran's anxiety disorder with features of PTSD is likely related to his service in Vietnam, and grants service connection for this condition. The issue of secondary service connection for hypertension will be addressed upon further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and his psychiatric disabilities. The VA will attempt to verify the Veteran's reported stressors and obtain an updated medical opinion on the etiology of his current psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of service connection for bronchial asthma and evaluation for a nervous disorder are also being addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his blindness and PTSD, are found to have caused or contributed substantially to his death from renal failure due to hypertension.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety disorder, autoimmune disability, sleep apnea disability, and heart disability. The evidence does not support a finding of current diagnoses or a relationship to service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his in-service stressor and therefore denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of the amended version of 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(3).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when combined, meet the criteria for a TDIU. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified is related to his service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxiety and lumbosacral spine disabilities leave him in need of assistance or result in his being housebound. The claim will be returned for further action.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding that his service-connected psychiatric disability did not play a role in his fatal cardiac and lung disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for an additional VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature, extent, onset and etiology of any psychiatric disability found to be present during the appeal period.

The Board denied reopening the Veteran's claims for service connection for a nervous disorder and a back disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted to support these claims.,Both issues were previously adjudicated in June 2005 by the Board, which found that there was insufficient evidence to reopen either claim.

The Veteran's psychiatric symptomatology, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, was found to warrant a 50 percent evaluation from June 29, 2006 through September 14, 2008, and a 70 percent evaluation from September 15, 2008.

The Board found no evidence that the Veteran's major depression was caused or aggravated by his service-connected Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development of evidence.