Anxiety decisions — 2012

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with features of PTSD and claustrophobia is found to be as likely as not attributable to traumatic events during his military service, warranting the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a right eye disability was granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for this condition.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for hypertension was granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for this condition based on evidence linking it to Agent Orange exposure or as secondary to other conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder is currently evaluated at 50 percent, which meets the criteria for a 70 percent evaluation based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability, and remands the case for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to be incurred in active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The Board also finds that the Veteran has a current skin disorder related to his in-service rashes, as well as an enlarged prostate gland related to his in-service problems with urination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The effective date of the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was changed to October 12, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including anxiety disorder and COPD, were denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum to the May 2010 VA examination report and obtaining SSA records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism, eye disorder (claimed as eye sight), sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. The evidence did not establish a direct link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety neurosis, as part of the Veteran's already service-connected PTSD. Service connection is also granted for neurodermatitis, as part of the Veteran's already service-connected lichen simplex chronicus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including the issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) addressing an earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension. The case will be returned to the Board only if the Veteran files a Substantive Appeal.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain treatment records and lay statements, as well as a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the underlying claims remain denied. The Veteran has a current diagnosis of anxiety disorder that may be related to active service.,The Veteran's kidney disease and urinary incontinence are both found to be related to active service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with alcoholism and PTSD was found to meet the criteria for a 50 percent disability rating prior to January 13, 2005.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected psychiatric disability was partially granted, with an increased rating to 70% effective August 24, 2010. The appeal is mixed as some issues were granted and others denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and a breathing disorder, but granted service connection for right ankle venous ulcer due to asbestos exposure. The Board found that there was no chronic right ankle venous ulcer symptomatology during or since service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and non-VA medical records, contacting the Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services to obtain disability benefits records, and scheduling a new VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected undifferentiated somatoform disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, as well as the etiology of his currently diagnosed hypertension. The RO will also ensure that all relevant evidence has been considered.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depression and anxiety, is found to be proximately due to a service-connected disability. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate his service-connected disabilities.