Anxiety decisions — 2011

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and reopened a claim for a bilateral eye disability. The Veteran's other claims are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation and nonischemic cardiomyopathy, DJD of the left knee, or hypertension. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD in his VA examination reports.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a new examination to assess his current employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a generalized anxiety disorder with personality disorder and mild mental impairment, finding that no new and material evidence was received since the June 1989 denial.

The Board has expanded the issue from PTSD alone to include entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is now remanded for additional development, including obtaining private mental health treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for anxiety neurosis and PTSD are being remanded due to insufficient development, including the need for proper VCAA notice and a VA examination.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is manifested by symptoms such as anxiety, difficulty sleeping, hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts, limited interpersonal difficulties, and visual hallucinations. The Board finds that the criteria for an initial evaluation of 30 percent but not higher have been met.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Panic Disorder and Hypothyroidism have been granted, with the former receiving a 30 percent rating and the latter a 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder is related to an incident in service. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for costochondritis and anxiety disorder, including heart flutters and loss of control of feelings. The Veteran's symptoms are presumed related to his active duty service in the Persian Gulf.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his private treatment records from a psychologist. The case will be returned to the Board after these records are obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination and consideration of secondary service connection claims. The case will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with anxiety, was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current symptoms, combined with his stressor experiences in Vietnam, are sufficient to support a diagnosis of PTSD. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disorder is related to his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and nonservice-connected pension benefits are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety is being remanded due to the need for further development including obtaining additional medical records and verifying stressor events. The Board will also consider whether any current psychiatric disability may be related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD with anxiety and depression was granted an initial rating of 30 percent from January 8, 2003, to February 26, 2008. From February 27, 2008, the Veteran received a higher rating of 50 percent until October 22, 2008, when she was granted an increased rating of 70 percent and continues to receive this rating.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder, dysthymia with pseudodementia, and primary insomnia, are found to have onset during her active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, anxiety and/or depression), and tinnitus. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be related to his military service.