Anxiety decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and cellulitis of the right and left legs have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and denied an increased rating for anxiety disorder. The Veteran's anxiety disorder was found to be manifested by symptoms including occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks due to anxiety and sleep impairment.

The Veteran is found incompetent to handle disbursement of VA funds due to his service-connected depressive neurosis with anxiety.

The Veteran's service-connected major depression with generalized anxiety disorder is productive of occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas since September 2, 2008. Prior to that date, the disability was productive of occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and panic disorders, is found to be aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disability. The back disability was not incurred or aggravated by active service. The right knee tendonitis and left knee patellofemoral stress syndrome are each rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for generalized anxiety disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is required before it can adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The case is REMANDED for further action.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety is not shown to be productive of occupational and social impairment warranting a higher evaluation, and thus the claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent has been denied.

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